OUR SYDNEY LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 15479, 29 April 1914, Page 4

OUR SYDNEY LETTER

POLITICAL RUCTIONS,

The silly seaton is'being enlivened, if not. altogether edified, by the revival of an old-standing squabble between the Ministry and the Caucus. Some folks discern in"it the .angary of a serious “split" in the dominant party. Others, more philosophically, regard it as of nO more significance than,the proverbial “storm in the teacup.’’ Some days ago, in the absence of the PferiMer in Melbourne, the Parliamentary Caucus passed a resolution to the effect that the Government should make no appointments to the Legislative Council till the names of the proposed nominees had been submitted to that body. In explanation, one must remember that the more “forward” spirits claim that the recent election gave the Government a mandate to abolish the Upper House. When they had passed Supply they had served their turn, and nothing more was needed than to call in the executioner. But how was it to be done?. With keen remembrance of the character of the latest appointments! made by the Government, the Caucus decided, in effect, that Ministers are not to be trusted in a matter of this kind, but that it must be taken in hand by the body from which they derive their authority. But now Mr Holman, without any discernible provocation, has made a public announcement to the effect that he will not consent to hold office on any such terns. The function of the Caucus ends, he declares, when they have appointed their responsible administrators. They must be left to administer the affairs of the State according to their own judgment, and will acknowledge no subjection to any outside body. This is a cruel blow to those revolutionaries who fondly imagined that, having succeeded in returning a “ Labor ” Government to power with an unquestionable majority, the revolution was about to begin. This idea, by the way, seems to be the mainspring of the numerous “strikes” which are dislocating industry. Anylgow, the prevalent feeling is one of keen disappointment. “Why, in all but the name it’s just the bam© as any other Government !” they complain. They fail, hf course, to see that the practical business of Government involves responsibilities of which the fervid orators of* the lodge rooms know nothing. But in proportion to their colossal ignorance so is their colossal conceit that they know everything. In the Premier they assumed that they were about to secure a pliant and obedient tool. Lo and behold: he asserts himself as master of the position.

“ BITING THE FILE.” Master of the position he is, nukes or Until the Assembly put him in a minority. His resignation would automatically carry with it that of the Ministry as a whole. The Governor cf the State recognises only the Premier. He has no official cognisance of any of the other Ministers, except so far as they express the views oi that gentleman. Much less has he any cognisance of the Caucus, immense as is the power wielded by that body. If the worst came to the worst, Mr Holman would have a sufficient following among the more moderate and sensible members of the party to utterly defeat the hopes of those •who wish to hoist the red flag right away. The latter, therefore, have no recourse but to “bite the file,” while they endeavor to confide themselves with such modicum of enjoyment or nutriment as they may be able to extract from that useful implement. But they are especially sore that the Premier should give the story of the rupture to the public. “We transact our business in secret,” they say. “ Why can’t- we wash our dirty linen in secret too?” But the Premier knows what he is about. He is appealing from the fanaticism 'of the Caucus to the good sense of the people. There can be little doubt which way the decision will go. ANOTHER REBUFF.

Mr Griffith, the Minister of Works, has given the strike agitators of the Riyerina a slap in the face. When certain railwaymen struck work rather than aid in carrying what they were pleased to regard as “black” chaff—that is to say, chaff which had been consigned by farmers who had refused to concede the demands of the union—they were promptly reinstated by Ministerial “ fiat,” and the edict went forth that no chaff was henceforth to he carried for anybody ! I ought, perhaps, to explain that ‘the line in question is not completed, and is still under the jurisdiction of the “ Works.” Since January last the settlers had been allowed to send produce along the completed portions of tho line. The Ministerial order rescinding the privilege was hailed as a brilliant victory by the strikers. Others, however, could not conceive that such a mode of punishing innocent settlers in order to bolster up insubordinate public servants who had refused duty would be allowed to stand. They have'been so far justified by the result that Mr Griffith has restored the privilege which had been cancelled by his colleague, and, like Mr Holman, has declared' that he will not be dictated to in his administration of the works under his control. There must be trouble, therefore, in the Ministry itself, as well as

trouble between the Caucus and the Premier. In anv Other country one would be warranted‘in expecting a reconstruction of the Cabinet. But With Caucus rule, and under the influence of payment of members, it is astonishing to not© how long-suffering those members (especially if they are also Ministers) Can become, CARTERS “OUT.”

Meanwhile the Rural Workers’ Union have, been astute enough to get the Sydney cartel’s to fight their battle for themA number of the latter have been dismissed for refusing to handle the goods which, in their imagination, are fraught with potentialities so disastrous. Many have been summarily discharged. But the trouble is so serious that thefo have been no sales of farm produce at the railway station for the last day or two, and at the time of writing it is uncertain -when they will be resumed. The railway yard is crammed with trucks, and station masters have been instructed to send down no more till further orders. It is not likely, however, that this trouble will be of long continuance. The farmers them selves are _ not only ready, but eager, to take a hand in it on their own account. As soon as arrangements are complete, which may bo before this reaches its readers, the places of the strikers will be filled by volunteers from the country, and another attempt to “hold up ” one of the most important industries of the State will be signally defeated. Bather tardily employers have awakened to the necessity of making common cause against the would-be dictators who arc causing all the trouble. They mean business this time, and there can bo little doubt that the experience of New Zealand. Brisbane, and Melbourne will be repeated in Sydney. THE FEDERAL DEADLOCK. Disappointment is being freely expressed at the futility of the proceedings of the Federal Legislature, which has now reassembled. Instead of taking the democratic course of getting to the electors as soon a;possible, the Opposition in tho House have commenced an apparently interminable debate on the Address-in-Rcply. The Government cannot force matters, for th-: majority is comprised in the person of the Speaker, who, it is wel! known, will not vote for the closure-. Th© Senate has adjourned for throe weeks, which is regarded as a probable indication of the length of tho interregnum. In view of what is passing in the senior State, the delay is hardly 'ikely to redound to the advantage of the Opposition. But, if it can only keep talking Jong enough, all kinds of unexpected events may happen, and, in the meantime, t-h© pay runs on all the same as if they were doing good work in returnAN AIRMAN. We have an airman in Sydney, M. Maurice Guillaux. He indulged in an experimental flight yesterday, and for the flrst time in the atmosphere of Australia he “loop” was “looped.” It is all very hiring, of course, and requires some skill .mo the bargain. But, as the ghastly

fatalities recorded from day to day amply demonstrate, there is still a tormidabl© element of danger in aerostation, and it la not very apparent wiiy that danger should be unnecessarily increased. Hov ever, there is unquestiouahD an *.p petite for this kind of sensation, and presumably these who cater to it find tLeb account in so doing. April 21.

YOU AND HOO At Gravesend Police Court-; Solicitor: Where do you live ? Witness i Hod. Solicitor: You. Witness: Hoo, sir. Solicitor; You, I mean; you yourself Witness: Hoo. Solicitor: Oh! at Hoo? Witness: Yes, sir.