Empire Outposts.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 350, 8 February 1917, Page 5

Empire Outposts.

AUSTRALIA.

FEDERAL POLITICS.

LAMENTABLE PARTY STRIFE

LABOUR’S HOSTILE ATTITUDE

Melbourne, Feb. 7

Mr Tudor has informed Mr Hughes and Mr Cook that the official Labour party has decided that it was unable to confer with a view of forming a National Government. Mr Hughes, after conferring with Mr Cook, stated that the way was now clear for the formation of a National Government composed of Ministerialists and Liberals. He awaits the Liberal’s decision.

(Received, 8. '.'.30. a.ni.) Melbourne, Feb. 7'

After the caucus meeting it was stated that the official labour party was determined to retain control of the Senate. If Mr Hughes looked for fight be would get it to the bitter end.

MINISTERIAL AND LIBERAL AGREEMENT. TO FORM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. (Heccßcd. 8. a.m.) Melbourne. Feb. 7. A meeting of Liberals parsed amotkyii agreeing to the torinution of a National Government, subject to the adjustment of certtiin quest inns. A committee of three ministerialists and three liberal- has been iippoiD ted to confer on the basis ol the iir rangement. Th-- re-olutimi will be submitted to Mr Hughes today. If Mr Hughes goes to London Mr Cook (leader of the Opposition) Will load the Government. STRONG ARMY RESERVE CON S I ST ING ~OF H ETI RN ED SOLDIERS. - lie--I'iv cd S 9.30 a.tn.) Melbourne, Feb. 7. The Federal Executive has sanctioned a comprehensive Australian army reserve, the backbone to consist of returned soldiers.

AN OFFICER’S DOWNFALL.

THE FORGERY CASE

Sydney, Feb. 7.

In the Lieut.. Howell Price case evidence, showed that accused owned racehorses and betted heavily. He. had accounts in different banks under various names. He forged the signature of Ins commanding officer to some pay lists. Accused's bare word was often taken in connection with these lists, because, he occupied a highly responsible position. Illustrative of the alleged looseness of departmental methods it was stated recently that the inquiry discovered that one paymaster Lmd ten thousand sovereigns in his safe and was unable to say where they came

from. . I The amount involved tn the charges is approximately' £66,000.]

SOLDIERS DISGUSTED.

PO LI TIC A L TR E A Cll ER Y

Sydney, Feb. 7. Captain Bean, (the Australian official war correspondent) after describing the bitter winter weather at the front, says that more bitter stiff is the thought one hears expressed on every side that after all these men have done, the Australian politicians cannot sufficiently sink party gain or loss to represent in a wholehearted way in the Imperial Conference the Australian ideas of justice and right which they are dying for. Cabling under date London, Jan. 27th, Captain Bean said: Australians may wish to know how party differences in Australia at the present juncture appear to Australians who watch them from the centre of the world's struggle. I have no means of speaking for the whole Australian force, but if the sentiments of those who have watched the Australian soldiers fighting and Iving shattered and dying for two long years are any guide, then to these’the existence of such a situation at such a moment is almost bevund belief. To them it is inconceivable that Australia’s parties and party politicians should be so infinitesimally simill-minded and incapable of grasping the meaning of current events ami ol playing Australia’s big part in them that they should put party consideiations before the fullest, most solemn, and most powerful i cpiesi ntation of Australia at the ioitheoining conference.

For two and a balf years the Australian soldiers have sweated, fought, and died for one great object and one alone, namely, to end this war in accordance with the ideals of Australia, and now’ when that object is in view Australian politicians suddenly fail them. Australian soldiers dying in thousands hate, through the greatest deeds Australia has ever achieved, brought their work to a point at which it can be handed over to Australian statesmen to take Australia’s part in the .settlement. Most would have thought that if every party politicians in Australia should put aside their party differences so as to let the cause of Australia be represented directly by the nmst powerful representative the country could find they would do so now.

This is the most important conference ever held within the Empire, a hundred times more momentous than any previous Imperial conference. The densest brain can see how immensely important to the nations of the British Empire and to the Allies the immediate holding of such a conference is at a time when Germany’s one hope is to create differences between them. The densest intellect can see how the cause of democracy and Austiahiui ideals needs it more strongly still. Most would have thought that the whole party machinery of Australia would be bent on stilling all sttiic while the country sent her first citizen to the conference to secure m the most complete form possible that the settlement should bo in accordance with the noblest Australian ideals. I can tell them this. It is for those ideals Australians died. Most would have thought that politicians and the nation would have entered as a sacred task and with humble pride the finishing of tliv work for which so many thousand Australians have given their lives, and that when this great sacred task was entrusted to them they would have regarded nothing else in the world than its completion. Yet the Australian soldier looking across the oceans sees party politicians fighting over party concerns. If party organisations are so incapable of rising to the one solemn occasion in all history when all Australia ought to sneak with one voice; if party politicians are so small of stature that they are unable to allow’ the first statesman in Australia to speak for the ideals of Australia, now when the time draws near for securing them ; if party leaders allow the sacred and only cause for which the Australian army has fought and died to go by default of the strongest possible representation in the council called for deciding the position to be taken up by the British Empire in the settlement. then it will be treachery to the dead and living such as well might make Australians rise and fling such obstacles to the winds. That is how the party situation in Australia appears to such Australians as I know of overseas.

NOTES FROM VARIOUS STATES

The Australian prohibition of passports for women and children does not apply to New Zealand, Ho nth Africa, India. East Africa, Mediterranean or European ports. The American Consul at Sydney has been officially advised of the severance of diplomatic relations with Germany, and directed to buspend all activities with Germany.