SYDNEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11750, 30 November 1898, Page 2

SYDNEY.

[Correspondent “Canterbury Times.”] . , SYDNEY, Oct. 31; DISILLUSIONMENT, It has not taken the Opposition very long to be disillusioned as to the alleged transcendent merits of Mr. Barton as a leader, nor do they feel particularly grateful to the handful of determined Bartonians who compelled them to oust Mr Lyne in favour of the member for the Hastings. Mr Barton is an academic politician of great ability, but not half versatile enough for the rough and ready work of practical politics. He is not a bad speaker, but when you have heard him once he has little fresh to tell you, and becomes wearisome to a fault. He affects to disdain the, arts by which Mr Reid pla.ys upon the foibles of his hearers in order |to arouse their interest and retain ffieir sympathy. Consequently, ho fires over the head of “The man in the street/' and yet not high enough to appeal to really thoughtful people, who have some sense of the value of great principles, and who could be rallied to their support. Nolhwithstanding all the silly talk about “ halos and circular rainbows,” Australians noblest son is as much an opportunist as the Premier, but the prize for .which, he. steers is speedy federation, to which everything else is to be sacrificed. As a party leader, he is a failure. Even the clumsy and lumbering Lyne can “ ran rings ” round him as a tactician, and the prospects of the Opposition under their new general are less rosy than they were under their pid one. At the same time, I don’t think there is a particle of truth in the malicious rumour which affirms that Mr Barton is likely to become Attor-ney-General in the Reid Ministry, nor, with a majority of only three, can the position of the latter be considered secure, even if there were only a dummy at the head of the “gentlemen opposite.” THE FEDERAL RESOLUTIONS. The Federal resolutions introduced by the Government having been passed, the House is now engaged in considering an amendment supported by the Labour Party and designed to ensure the rule of the majority. U nfortunately the smaller colonies —although we are not to conclude that there are no Democrats amongst them—distrust the rule of the majority, fearing it may tend to their own effacement. It is plain that a majority and minority cannot both rule at the same time. In the eagerness to consummate the _ union of the colonies, very important principles are being overlooked, and it is to be feared that the Commonwealth will be exposed to all the humiliating disabilities of minority rule. However, people who don’t value their liberties, don’t deserve to retain them. THE WAR SCARE. Considerable disappointment is felt by fire-eating Federalists at the more pacific aspect of the Pashoda embroglio. Onev section thought that the fear of war would cause the people to rush into Federation in short order, and, when once the bonds were riveted, they could repent at leisure. Another section was casting longing eyes on Now Caledonia and the New Hebrides, much in the same way as Mr Rhodes was doubtless casting over in his own mind who would be the best man to appoint as Governor of Madagascar. The habit of dividing the spoil before the battle is won is still prevalent. It can, at any rate, be recommended as thrifty, and productive of a great deal of cheap enjoyment. A PRINCELY -GIFT. Mr Mitchell has presented,, or has announced his intention to present, his magnificent library to the colony , provided the Government, on their part, will undertake that it shall be appropriately housed. The collection is a splendid one, being especially strong in works relating ;to the early history of Australia. No one in this age will say anything against the value of books or of antiquarian research, or against those who devote their lives to them. Prom the point of view of the public good, it is matter for congratulation'that there axe men who are seized of their importance. But one wonders wnether matters of greater moment will ever be dealt with as adequately. In. America millionaires who have amassed immense fortunes through monopolies acquired by force and fraud, have presented the public not only with libraries, but, with universities, and have endowed them with professors after their own hearts. It may be questioned whether, on balance, the public was-.bene-fited. ' The real benefactors'would be the men wfio should improve the condition of the masses* of the people. In some aspects, modem society presents as grotesque a figure as the blackfellow who proudly stalks about in a silk hat and paper collar, without any other article of attire. It is like Nebuchadnezzar’s image—a head and body of precious materials resting on feet of clay. , THE CURRENCY. It seems probable that before long the currency question may become as vital an element in the politics of Australia- as it already is in America. The tremendous export of gold that is going on—every San Francisco, steamer taking half a million or so—is bound to cause stringency sooner or later, and the banks will then advise the Government to borrow to relieve the strain. There are Leagues in Sydney, and. the subject Is attracting more ' attention, than was formerly the case. SUNDAY - RECREATION. ■ The Rev E. T. Dunstan, of the Pitt Street Congregational Church,-has come in for some rough criticism (some of it very scurrilous and disgraceful) for protesting against the conduct of some Sydney journalists who gave the newsboys of the city an outing on Sunday. Mr Dunstan seems to have missed the mark. The greater sin is that which inflicts on so large a proportion ( of the population for six days in the week (too often seven days), conditions which are fatal to common decency, and which render health and morality alike impossible. To attempt to alleviate the lot of a few of them for one day in the year, even though that day were Sunday, was a very venial offence in comparison. ILLEGAL BY-LAWS; It is seldom, indeed, that our Courts of “justice” vindicate the oppressed. Their chief use seems to be to extract money from wealthy litigants, and leave the poor ones to stew in their own gravy. When they do deviate into other paths the fact deserves chronicling. The. Full Court, then, last week decided that the by-law of the Transit Commissioners, which says that any ’bus driver who shall.arrive at any public stand or place otherwise than in strict accord with the time-table shall be guilty of an offence, was entirely unreasonable, and, therefore, ultra vires. A driver might be detained by many causes beyond his own control. A horse might fall or cast a shoe, there might be an unusually large number of passengers, or some passenger might give trouble, and if the driver were half a minute late he could be fined £lO. One wonders what kind

of people framed such-a law, and how many unhappy drivers have been fined under it. The transit arrangements are like many other things in New South Wales, either disgracefully lax or else atrociously and unworkably tyrannical.