SYDNEY LETTER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 12

SYDNEY LETTER.

THE MIKIRS' STRIKE. POLITICAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONFUSION. [From Orrt OmiiEsroNnENT.] November 15. Wo are in the midst of tho wildest chaos. At the moment of writing tho port is crowded with idle shipping; thousands of people are out of work ; wo arc threatened with the loss in a few days of gas and electric light; train, tram and ferry services are being cut down; the price of perishable produce is going up with a bang; Governments arc either collapsing or reconstructing or preparing to fall. Life has suddenly become most, interesting. Australians who a week or so ago wero vawning over the war news now have quite a" lor, to entertain them. Personally I have not the .most renioto idea, how 1 am going to gee across the harbour into the city to-morrow. The steamers may be running or they may not. If Ih'ey are not my neighbours will say " Kismet" and stay at home and wo will all take some gentle exercise with the lawn mower. It is a great counbry this. Of course wo are «!1 inflexibly determined to carry on tho war to a triumphant conclusion, so you must not think that because our transports are hung up and our equipment factories shut down we are any less resolute than wo wore. All that only shows our peculiar way of doinn things. ISor must you imagine that because our politicians look about the cheapest and most futile things on earth, and our Parliaments, thoucli numerous, arc the last word in impotence, political mouths are not as full as ever they were of talk about an amending Bill and all the rest of it. The only difficulty the Australian politician is in just now is that he does not know what Bill to amend. Jlo is the most bewildered specimen of bis kind in the world. We are going through the crucible if ever a people were. THE HOLD-UP OF THE COLLIERIES.

What is taking place from day to day, is, of course, reported by tho cable service and readers of the " Lyttolton Times " have already been informed of what constitutes tho main grounds of dispute between tho coalowners and miners. The incontrovertible fact of tho situation i.y that the miners have thrown the Arbitration Act overboard, have adopted a policy of direct action, paralysed the whole oi the country's industries and transporf and are, endeavouring to foment a general strike among the wholo body of "unionist wage-earners. When asked why they did not concede the mens demands tho mine-owners say that the mines could not be worked except at an enormous loss on the system suy-o-estod. This, of course, sounds very like what they havo always said. It mar be wrong. Vet it may be. right. The facts can only be reached by mqnirv and the owners offer to establish'them. Rut- there call be no inquirv when the miners dely the tribunal established to weigh the merits of the case and it would obviously be madness for Parliament with no information except such as may be .secured from load talk, to step in and puss legislation. The Attorney-General Uk definite on that point yest6rda>. "If anvoife can show me. he said, " that to remove the alleged grievances of the miners is the way to ,e----!ieve the country of miners strikes, f :woitld be glad. But eNpenence has shown that no sooner is one sot of tienin„ds agreed to than others aie .for undated- no sooner is a Htnko o. ded than another commences. . H ™ .ay sympat ,se will, eight T'aV theVK tft&X SS "od an orderly and sane metho o ■'settling their dispute,.have , dre d> involved the community n heav> loss, and are trying to establish, a tryanny overall other classes of oitwjjjj over Parliament. To ' grant the, <lo mands" in a. state of panic would be reckless and indefensible step. It would be far better to face nicoiiven.eiico and loss at once, and see the Sung right through. The tyniß up o transport* can only be temporary, foi he Federal Government lias absolute powers under the War Precautions Aeb to get coal or anything el.se. it it chooses to enforce them.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Events in connection with Federal politics are moving rapidly. Mr Hughes's faction in the Labour caucus hHB emerged from its trial of strength with the stalwarts \n a grievous condition. Caucus broke tho Governments back in short order, and at tho end of the struggle Mr Hughes is left with a following which turns tho Government into a committee of the weakest group in the House of Representatives, faced with a hostile majority in the Senate. Tho Ministry of a few months ago which sent Mr Hughes on his triumphant way to London has been shattered almost out of recognition. Cast out bv his own union, declared bogus by the Labour organisation in his" own State, bearing a tremendous voto of no-connd'once from the electors and repudiated by a majority of his party in Parliament, the position of the Prime Minister is desperate. How he is going to carry on with the team lie now lias no ono has tho slightest idea. He certainly must appeal to the Liberal Party for help, and that may be forthcoming, and aid him in the Lower House. But what of the Senate? There tho position of the .Ministry is hopeless. Of course there are people who believe that Mr Hughes will pull through.. For myself ,1 take leave to think they are wrong, and that Mr Hughes, as a lender of tho Labour Party, is broken beyond repair. The position in the Federal Parliament is grotesque and dangerous. There ought to bo a general election, t and the sooner wo have one the better. THE HOLMAX MINISTRY. In the State of New South Wales political parties are being-turned upsido down and inside out. Mr Ilolnian, the Premier, having been cast out. of the Labour, tabernacle, has managed 1 to work a fuse between a remnant of the party lie led aud the Liberal Opposition. With this majority and by an understanding quietly arrived at with the Upper House, he will put through a Bill providing for an extension of the life of Parliament. What becomes of Mr Wade, the Liberal leader, has not been announced. But the AgencyGeneral is vacant, and after a decent interval Mr Wade's fate will bo known to the man in the street. A sensational incident last week was the announcement that the Governor, who is known to object to the prolongation of Parliament had dismissed Mr Hohnan. It was a mere flash in the pan. The Governor acted prematurely, and his displeasure of the Ministry was removed by Mr Wade explaining that in a dav or two a now Ministry would be formed, in which the Assembly would express its confidence. Meanwhile, Labour organisations are calling public meetings < to denounce the fuse, and petitions are in circulation demanding that tho Government shall go to the country'. It can be said with eomplete confidence that the Government would not do this for all Wid ten in China. Thousands of electors had prepared to march in procession to Parliament House last night, but the procession was forbidden by the police. So the indignant crowd gatheied in the street outside Parliament '

House and mado speeches, but the police were there in force, and nothing more than an escape of hot air occurred. Mr Holman's position is extra-, ordinary, but for the moment seems much safer than that occupied by Mr Hughes. Whether his fuse in tho AsKombly will fuse in ih.o constituencies; remains to be seen. Much may happen between now and the time he goes to the country. It Is almost certain, for instance, that something will happen to tho finances of the. State. They are; in a decidedly queer condition. In other States the atmosphere is much tho s.imc. There has been a frantic uproar in Queensland and the AuditorGeneral is now making grave charges against, the Ministry. In Western Australia the new Government is selling off a number of disastrous "public enterprises'' started by that amiable, spendthrift. Mr .lack Scaddcn. ~in Victoria a r.plit in the Liberal Party is imminent, in consequence of the Government's amaeing extravagance. In South Australia a Labour Ministry is being reviled by all the Labour organisations in tho land. A few weeks ago the writer of this letter expressed the view that the conscription issue had started a drama which would prohably have many acts. But he would hesitate to even attempt Io say what the nature of the last act will be. That, we arc going to see some strange happenings in .Australia is as certain as that wo have already bad an instalment.