ODD NOTES FROM SYDNEY

Evening Star, Issue 14184, 8 October 1909, Page 3

ODD NOTES FROM SYDNEY

• PvRPM Our SrnciAL Corbespokdent.] , THE WOOL DISPUTE. Ihe dispute between the wool-baying '^ the wool-selling brokers kuexoe P en t and graphic illustration *[tbe operation of an influence that is wtiy© in Jill classes of society—the asserBon,. namely, of the privilege of an association, or (omtunation to do as it pleases, prospective of the equities of the case. 7? , sattie tyrannical exercise of power ••hjeh paralysed industry at the Barrier, w>d terrorised non-unionists into aequies»nce paralysed the woo 1 trade, and deterred independent buyers from exercising their lawful freedom. Human nature is niwh of a muchness, whether it wears nildr-made garments or mere fustian ; and jrhen it lays itself ont to combine against .he rights and liberties of othere it is a reiw unlovely lot, and becomes the enemy rf the public welfare,' whilst pretending to « its protector and friend. Both the Saving ‘and the selling brokers deemed them•elves strong enough to carry their mint. Old the thought of the injury fiat would iccnie to i’ll classes bj, a stoppage was not Ulowed to have any weight TOT AND KETTLE. kj'u or was indignant bemuse a thousand working men were derived of miployment by the quarrel of heir employers. It 6 'indignation had »mo ground in justice. But if it be a Time to bring about a deadlock in the 00 trnde, how much greater a crime nnst it be to scheme ami plot to bring .bout a stoppage in all trades! This innne and destructive idea of waging war gainst the State by means of a general trike is a favorite theme among agitators. Jn.icss common report belies it, the. Coun■u itself has spent much of its time in lonsing means to injure the whole comnnintT in the very manner which it so utterly complains of. THE ONE THING NEEDFUL. The one thing needful, from a civic point if view, is the maintenance of freedom ■nd equity. A combination which violates he.se principles is, by reason of the power tnich it wields, minii more formidable , n ;in individual. 'I hr only combination an y fleet ually keep such organisa■ithiit bounds is the civil Govemne\;er yet lias it essayed the ’ ~ ,u> '* '*• meant it. Its principles up o the present have hi mi dictated bv the °unt of owes rather than bv any desire o maintain tho'rights and liberties of the •eople In its origin this was the end or which Parliament existed—namely, to heck tyranny. The tyrants whom it was oinKMi to with&tniwl have ce<»sed to exist, nou PaiiiameDt.s, like other combinaions, evinre a very strong tendency to act he tyrant on their own account. EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS. It is everybody's business that the rights md liberties of individuals shall be scrupuonsly maintained. But what is evervKxly s business is nobody's business. How o trample on an unpopular minority seems K) bo the aim of much that is' called ' statesmanship" to-day. It will work its >wn discomfiture in due time, of course. 3ut the injury wrought may bo irreparable. THE BUDGET. Like other self-governing States. New xiuth Wales is the proud possessor of a Midget ; prouder still because it is the big5«St of tile lot. The revenue is over Billions, and no other State conies near it. Sven the Commonwealth has to take a lack seat, tor although its revenue is uomilaJly 14j millions, more than a quarter of hat sum has tn go hack to the States. Lvery year the treasurer of the day takes is into his confidence about this Budget. It may be noted Unit previously the jiernanent heads ot the department- have taken lim into their confidence, and have thormghly primed him as to details. Otherrise he might- he as much at sea as the rest ►I us. Even as it is. he sometimes gets the let ails tangled up in a very f'u;ic-us lashion. tor some Treasurers are like some ichofilhoy:;-— very slow at conning their •iisks. However, no .-mil charge can he aid at the door 0 f Mr Waddell. He gave a clear and succinct statement, which |howed that the State has paid its way ronng the year, and that he expects that t will repeat this-satistactory performance lext year—and without extra taxation, that is the sentence which counts. All he rest can he taken ns read.

—Ailmiiiist ration and Business.— Every year the Treasurer tells us that here ought to he u complete separation whyeen the proceeds of taxation and the iioliU of tiic business undertakings of the State, and. every year, as a matter of a.urse. he neglects to bring down any ♦ orkable proposal to effect this object, limilarly. every year, with Minerva-iiko riedom, he informs us that the proceeds of an<l stiles, being of the nature of capital. *Jghl not to be confounded with ordinary evenuo. Vet every year the confusion is je.rpetuated.jind every year the House conlones it. For it cannot initiate any reonn, or even express any decided opinion hat any radical change is needed without (ringing about a change of Government. Chis, to the unhiated, seems slightly silly. Jut we are all so fully [a; re traded that party 'overnment embodies the wisdom of the ices that it would be little short of blasshemy to hint otherwise. —Criticism.— Opposition criticism is almost as stereoy[id as tli<‘ Budget speech. Loan expend i- . me is condemned as wasteful and extrava* ttinl. and tin* cliarges incidental to the Joating ot li.an-s are seized upon as eviiriKvs ol untnisiiK’ss-likc management. They nay he. or they may not. Bub most of us R n combot iliiy certain that members of ;ie Oppcdt.oti cannot give many points to "e ! re.isury oiliciuls on financial mysteries ; ns L.nd. So far an loan expenditure] i ented, it mii«t not lx; forgotten that n Aunt ral'a it takes the place of private] pri ;0. Railways and tramways, which I it the Gld f-nintry would be constructed] l y ii;l:'l.s "<n tlteir own.’ are with us t: 1 •s'tt'.e.ed with funds borrowed bv the j lo.vcßim; n*. A iw.tntion of that expendiI •'!' wr il<l b- <• purulent to a cessation of I i ‘■ • !: * ' I' - -" at Home, It would : G ' ” V FORM, i a." very prominent : ’ a iiiar lUinuybrook j eater doe,- not as y ' <i of (he j • eiareil i;, make ill -eo- -in t;,.. -.I) ■ v nilf-ii.;) hive a! ’• > • 111■ i■ • g i «■ ' . -.vh'-i Gi a, , d 1 -'j ' ! 'a! out o: VJi.i I. ■ 1 'cure lb.-n , ■■ j- ' • ' 1 I - I 1 f! ill'-:! mili I r ‘ ■ !■ 1 IV ulll ti11,.; a • a .-a I uwrksmau would •\ •' wlieii,,., he Has : ‘‘ ' ; " ''ether he stood ■•' v - , : ’'i il w i : a question ■ 1 -• j 1 is these con- ; d which make one’s fra ia ■ ■ Min their opinion with such i 1 llliai :! l ii:: vmvi.kr not,st. I 'I he M'M\ 1- i In i .» .-.till hangs in the bal- j au.e. i !"■ Cuiif (oramisskmer’s reply to | (lie rep.jrt ot the Commission shows that | I here are aspects of the matter which they had not considered. Their recommcnda- I lion to consign all this costly machinery to Urn scrap heap seems premature, in the face of Mr Johnson’s statements. At the same time his action in purchasing throe of these hoists before, ascertaining that their work would be satisfactory to there who would have to use them was clopß ably premature. His attitude was t Inverse of conciliatory to the Newcastle and now they are paying bim back interest. At the same time the public terest must he conserved. It would new do to sacrifice so large an amount of money simply because certain eminent personages have resolved on a game of cross purposes. The hoist, it is clear, would do a great deal of useful work if all parties would make up their minds to make the best of it. , THE-CLOSER SETTLEMENT BILL. The provisions of the Closer Settlement Bill don’t improve on acquaintance, and prospect of passing in its present form

is but slender.* To empower the Qovomihept to lock-up any man’s estate for five years, seems invidkraß and oppressive, and many supporfocs of the j Ministry hesitate to identify themselves .with it, when expedients which would apply equally all ; ' i ke,' and which - would effect the desired •■c with a minimum of irritation, are vious and inviting. It has even been ri cd that the Government intend to : wu'.draw the Bill. ‘This has been denied, ; I’ li i 'ow they are to pass it, even in the ; A-; ly, Joes not appear clear. It can- ; , ixpocted that the Council will take ' 1 ' ?<) un P reoe< l en ted a provision. I A or. : the case of its rejection by that I body, is it one that it would be safe to . upper.! to the electors about. The future j oonrs o ultimate fate of this curiously- , devised Bill will be , awaited with great Interest. October 1.