OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 12161, 4 April 1904, Page 3

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER

[Fbom Oub Special Corbespondext.] SYDNEY, March 26. FEDERAL, POLITICS.—THE ARBLTRAHON BILL. Mr Deakhi has saved his political reputation by the firm stand he has taken against the Labor party over the Arbitration Bill. Up to the moment of the delivery of bis second-reading speech the exact attitude the Government would assume was in doubt. To the satisfaction of his friends and well-wishers he adhered to the position tnat interference with State employees in departments not controlled by the Federal Government would be unconstitutional, and in a masterly speech he made out a strong case. It is now clear that the tnforcement of the Labor party proposal will be taken as a hostile vote, and Ministers, notwithstanding any differences of opinion on the subject, must stand or fall together. The fate of the Government is hanging in the balance over this Bill. It will not be determined until after the 12th prox., to which date an adjournment has been made to enable several members to make another " Federal Capital picnic."

A matter which was mentioned by Mr Deakin in his speech caused not a little surprise. To his own astonishment, he had found that under the system of arbitration in New Zealand the number of unionists had not increased. Quite the reverse. In 1900, out of 49,000 employees there were 26,000 unionists, and in 1901, with 57,000 employees, the unionists had been reduced to 24,000. A further reduction of 1,000 Last year was announced by telegram from Mr Seddon. A different result had been anticipated by Mr Deakin. "And so," said Mr Knox, "you propose to coerce men into union?" " Only when the ends of justice require it," was the Prime Minister's reply. Mr Deakin went to the trouble to explain that the provision to exclude State servants' had been inserted in the Bill not on account of the futile railway strike in Victoria. While admitting that the railway men had received some provocation for their action, he expressed the belief that no real relief could be afforded them through arbitration. Public servants had less hope from a conciliation court than probably any class in the community. The grievances of public servants were comparatively "mall when measured with those of workers outside Government employment. Rarely, if ever, could a dispute of public or railway servants become a Federal dispute hi the sense of this BilL because it must extend beyond one State, and there were no employees of any particular State outside its own borders. Considering the comparatively Little gain they could get under the Bill, lo risk , the whole * measure because they were not at once included was the same kind of recklessness displayed by captains of great steamers, who, in the effort to sarvs a few hours on the voyage, ran their vessels on a reef. His objection to including State servants was not caused by the representation of anyone outside the Cabinet. A public protest was made bv the Premier of Victoria, but that was long after the subject had been discussed in the Cabinet, and long after he had taken up his present attitude. It was entirely because, looking at the question as a lawyer, thought it was not competent for him to include public servants of the State in this measure. BONUS BILL. The Bonus Bill, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Sir "William Lyne, who described it as a necessary complement of the tariff. It was to complete the moderate scheme of Protection which had been initiated, and less objection should be made by Freetraders to definite sums to aid in the establishment of the great iron industry than continuous tariff imposts. There will be much opposition to the measure all the same by members who fail to see why the electors as a whole should be taxed for the benefit of a few manufacturers. Sir William Lyne painted a glowing picture of the large increase of employment that would result from the initiation of an incrustrv which apparently could not be established ,iDihoafc. jsmp. State, aid,,

rwill no doubt appeal to a large section of parliamentarians. The measure proposes that the scheme shall come into operation from the Ist of July next. A total sum of £250,000 is allotted to pig iron made from Australian ore, the bonus being 12s per ton. On the first 10,000 tons of spelter locally produced £2 per ton is to be paid. There is to be £50,000 on galvanised iron wires, netting, iron or steel tubes or pipes, except riveted or cast, not more than 6in in diameter internally. Ten per cent, of the value of the product is to be given. On. the first 500 reapers and binders £8 each will be paid. No. bounty is to be paid on pig iron, puddled bar iron, or steel made after July 1, 1S09; on spelter, galvanised iron, wire netting, or iron or steel pipes or tubes made after July 1, 1307; or on reapers and binders made after July L, 1906. MR BOWIE IN ADELAIDE. The Zionite campaign of the Rev. J. A. Dowie in Australia has been associated with more and more rowdiness as it has proceeded. His meeting at the Adelafde Town Hall on Monday night was the occasion of a hostile demonstration on the part not only of larrikins but also of adults who ought to have known better. An hour before the time fixed for the meeting a disorderly crowd, numbering many thousands, assembled outside the building. Under the restrictive system employed the hall gradually filled, and ultimately the entrances had to be closed to prevent a turbulent rush. Mr Dowie succeeded' in making his way into the hall secretly, but as soon as he appeared on the platform a large sections derisively burst into the refrain of ' Sons of the sea"'. When quietness was obtained Mrs Dowie attempted! a prayer, and her tones of voice were irreverently mocked. Mr Dowie afterwards delivered an evangelical address, and was frequently saluted with cries of "Get your hair cut!" and "Flap your wings, Dowie!" Prominent among 'the unruly, it is reported, were several sharebrokers, and one of them dropped on the floor several bottles of sulphurated hydrogen, creating a great stench. The meeting broke up in disorder, and Mr Dowie wrestled with the doxology amid a discordant din of topical songs. The crowd outside meanwhile had been engaged in scuffles with the police. A large stone broke one of the plate-glass windows of the hall, and a passing tramcar had all its windows smashed. Several attempts were made to force the iron gates at the main entrance, but the crowd were kept back by mounted police. After the meeting Mr Dowie slipped oat a side door, and 5,000 people adjourned to the York Hotel, where he was staying. Stones were thrown at the hotel, and the proprietor had to put up the window shutters. Notwithstanding the presence of the police several mischievous persons entered the building and distributed moistened carbide of calcium and other nauseous chemicals on the carpets. Mr Dowie did not return to the hotel until close on midnight. Mr Dowie is now limiting himself to afternoon meetings. On Wednesday he indulged in another attack on the Freemasoas. "As for Sir Alexander Peacock," he said, " I shall take several feathers from his tail back to America with me." Thursday was devoted to an attack on the Press. Mr Dowie said that when God gave a man a message He stood by him in the deliver}' of it, aud every editor hi Chicago who had attacked him had, with one exception, died. The remaining one had given up newspaper work.