OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 12305, 21 September 1904, Page 3

OUR AUSTRALIAN LETTER

[By Ofr Spkciat, Corbesfoxdevt.] SYDNEY, September 10. THE FEDERAL SITUATION. The turmoil for place and power in the Federal Parliament is not over. The alliance of the Protectionist- discontent!: under Mr Isaacs with, the Labor )«rty materially alter the prospects of the Reid-M'Lean coaliion Goveniment being able to carry ou. The wrangle for office may be immediately renewed, and it is not at all improbable that another crisis may bring about a dissolution. Mr Reid has already begun to uso the threat, of an appeal to the country, to which he will be entitled should he be defeated, and the trouble involved in another election •.so soon after coming from their constituencies is the only tiling likely to weigh with some members." Mr Reid b,-m but a bars majority, which may be lost at any moment, but he has a decided advantage, in the dissolution resort, which he practically holds in his pocket. The working programmes of the parties now opposed to each other are so similar that the issue is undisguisodlv who shall occupy the Treasury benches. "Labor members feel exasperated that they should so soon have had to part with tlie sweets of office, and do not any longer feel disposed to be so squeamish ;u? to set steadfast adherence to principle in the wav of regaining lost emoluments. Tbev are like the carnivorous beasts of the forest who have tasted Wood, and do not relish bein" pot upon an abstemious diet.

As for Mr Isaacs and Sir William Lytic, who head the Adullam Cave dwellers' "conspiracy, they know their best chances of office lie with the I anorites. The former has been well summed up hv the 'Argus': Mr Isaacs personally." gays that journal, is the most intensely individualistic man in Australian politics. In the Victorian ianiament. wliether as member of one Ministry or as member of another, or as an Oppositionist to his friends or to his foes, u C T ,le fiWt standin S ox >t conspicuously was Mr Isaaes's promotiou of the interests of No. I.' TTe is the same, in the House ot Representatives that he was in the Legislative -Assembly—ever looking ant for the political advancement of Mr Isaacs. Tl>e motives of his desertion of his leader and his alliance with the Socialists can scarcely be misconstrued. He thinks lie sees an opportunity to clii-place Mr Deakin from the leadership of the Liberal partv, and Mr Wiggins from the post of adviser*and patron to the Labor party. Mr Higgins has been oi>en,y m sympathey with the. Labor party from the first, even when it was small and insignificant. Mr Isaacs has evidently come to the conclusion that it has a future before it, and it will be, politically, a paying Uiing to get- into a.'.liance with it as s<xm as possible. So he listens to bridge the 'impassable gulf of Socialism by anv sort of a structure that will bear him. "in his own Life he presents an example of all that the Socialists condemn. He represents success built on intense individual effort—oreat ability, backed by still greater industry. His career is a proof that in Australia the highest rewards await men of lowlv origin if they will only make a strenuous* use "of the gifts they possess." ■ Concerning Sir William Lvne it is well said that he " cherishes a personal antipathy to the Prime Minister which has attained a.most the character of a monomania." In regard to ability he is as different to lua confederate as chalk is from cheese. He is probably the least informed of politicians in Australia who have gained the rank of Premier His political ideas are contused and muddled, and he never made a speech vet that was worth listening to. Bin "an 'eye to the main chance " he has alwavs hail, and by whatever devious means "he ha? accomplished the reputation, he is generally acknowledged to be an underground engineer par excellence. He «? always plotting when not in office, and the personal influence be exercises is astounding. Other inconsolable* like Mr Manger and Mr Hume Cook are simply explosive elements of a hot-beaded democracy—fanatics incapable of logical thought on any proposition. Of course Sir Langdon BonVthnn does not come withm this category, and it is sad to find a man of his parks joining such companv. However, such are the. men whom the Labor caucus section have chosen to take to their bosom.. The alliance was not achieved without a struggle, for it was plainly a very awkward thing for Labor freetraders to join forces with a baud whose only excuse for existence was an immediate demand for more Protection. But in the end the Cave conspirators gained their end. In the first, instance the joint platform wa-s drawn up in such a fashion that while it was declared that the interest* of Protection were paramount, members cf the Labor party were to be allowed to exercise their individual judgment in regard to particular duties. It was word-juggiing of a mast transparent order. Ultimately it was decided to add the specific of appomtine a , Hoy*' Commission on the tariff. Good oid Roya! Commission! How many Governments have been served by this expedient of shelving an awkward "question ! 'Hie fiscal planks of the alliance now stand : "..'Preferential trade, to be discussed by the joint parties at an early date. Legislation, including tariff legislation, shown to lie necessary—first, to develop Australian ve-oirrt-es: second, to preserve, encourage, and benefit Australian industries, primary and secondary ; third, to secure fair conditious of labor for all engaged in even- form of industrial enterprise, ami to advance their interests and well-being without distinction of class or social status- fourth, as to any legislation arising under this paragraph .inly, ariy member of either partv may, us to any specific projiosal— (a) agree with members of his own party to be bound by thru- joint determination, "or (b) decide for himself how far particular cjreurastancc*prove, the necessity or extent to which the proposal should be carried. A Royal Commission to tie at once appointed as to the necessary tariff legislation, the personnel to be approved hy Parliament, the Commission to report if there is sufficient time to enable any desired legislation to be introduced next session."

11 will be noted that liic Commission arc lo report whether there is sufficient time to deal with the Tariff next session. In the event of such a body being appointed, it would not be surprising if they declared against being hurried in their august deliberations. Royal Commissions arc, as a rulr. long-lived. There have Wn cases in which their term of existence could only te •brought to a close by the extreme process- of cutting off supplies. A Royal Commission mitrht be relied on to give a resuscitated Labor Government ample time for rest and refreshment. The feasting on the loaves and fishes of office might easily last for a couple of years. T have a vivid recollection of the time and money wasted over the la«t Victorian Tariff Commission. Pretty well everv country district was visited, and'every yokel tha.t would come forwurd to deliver himself of his cruda notions was examined at :n----"idiiute length and with miserable monotony. Mont lip and months were occupied iu ridiculous jaunts and junketings to the remotest corners of the istate, ;uid in the end the secretary of the Commission drew up a repmt which be might just as easily have compiled beforehand. If Federal members nn- not prepared to vote on Tariff proposals without the dreary and useless investigations of a Royal Commissiou, they are no! ht for their positions. On the whole, I think the Labor partv would have acted wisely Jii standing out from an alliance that is likely to bring them more trouble than honor. MR REIIT.S POLICY. Mr Reid has delivered his policv speech, and the salient features have no doubfcbeen duly cabled to >,ew Zealand. Nothing of an heroic nature was expected from him, and apart from the -effectire. way inwhkh he took up and dealt with the numerous interjections which assailed him from the Opposition, his speech, was a plain. busine.«-lite statement of how matters already before Parliament are to be dealt with. Hh main point was that a juncture has .ww been reached when it is necessary for Liberal Democrats to make a stand against the schemes of Labor Socialists and the tyranny of Trades Hall solidarity wire-pullers. He asserted that there was a despotic power exercised over the representatives of the people by the political labor leagues, which was wielded by no other body known to the political life of Australia. A paid mi.vionn.rv of the Labor pu-tv was now going through Australia teaching the doctrine of extreme Socialism. In connection with the recent May Day. Mr Watson, had aaadc a secec/ )

in which he said the time was not ripe for carrying out Socialistic ideals to the extent desired, but there were plums ripe for picking, the first being the nationalisation of the tobacco industry, witli a capital of £8,000,000. Mr Reid made it clear that in the main he wished to combat the notion that the progress of Australia is to be secured not by freedom for the individual capitalist and worker, but all <wts of doubtful restrictions in favor of men in absolute political servitude to the Trades Hall organisation. REFORM IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Mr Carruthers, the new Premier of NewSouth Wales, has outlined a policy which meets with commendation as reasonable and businesslike. Retrenchment is of course a cardinal feature, but it will not be of the drastic character by which individual members of the Public Service are made unjustly to suffer. Mr Camrthers is going to cultivate the answer "No" to the numerous requests for expenditure which come from the local member, parliamentary votes are to be reduced, and greater use is to be made of Goveniment offices, so that private premises need not be leased to such a large oxtent as has hitherto been deemed necessary. It is a perplexing characteristic of Sydney thai offices connected with public departments are scattered ail over tho city, and the rent bill for apartments used quite apart from the spacious Government Buildings actually amounted to £15,000 in 1902. The era of departinent.il luxury is to be brought to an end, and sections of the service now in separate offices are to be accommodated in the Treasury and Ijand Buildings, which have been by no means fully occupied since the retirement of many officers. Resides, in some instances- a palatial apartment lias been devoted to a single officer. The Executive Council Chamber is a spa/:ious hall, and 31 r Oarnithers tJiinks it absurd that it should only be used for two or three hours a week. It might well be divided into offices for the accommodation of a large number of clerks, the Executive Council meeting elsewhere. There arc to be fewer steam launches at tho beck and call of officers and Ministers for pleasure parties, and if possible the expensive toy yacht Victoria is to be sold. In connection with the electoral law. the system of furnishing electors with "rights" is to be discarded as vexatious and unnecessary. Tlic system was introduced to prevent personation, but it has brought a. lot. of evils in its train, and been the means of disfranchising hosts of electors. To secure true majority rule the Premier proposes the introduction of the contingent vote. The Minister of Lands is at present preparing a Closer Settlement Bill, and Parliament is to be asked to appoint local government commissioners to pave the way for carrying out a scheme for which the State has waited foT a generation. There is to be a land settlement board and consolidation of the land laws. Special attention is to be devoted to the question of industrial education, and altogether a policy has been outlined wlu'ch leaves lifctc room for cavilling.