Australian Labour Parties

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 4

Australian Labour Parties

During tile past few weeks three State elections have been held in Australia. The most recent, that of Queensland, provided a notable Labour victory. Conversely, the other two administered severe defeats for Parliamentary Labour. For a number of reasons the response of Australian electors to Labour’s appeal is of very great interest to citizens of this Dominion.

Whilst we are now experiencing a Labour Government for the first time in our history, our cousins across the Tasman have had a generation of that experience. They have had Labour Governments of many types—some radical, some almost conservative —during good times and bad times. In political outlook Australians are much as we are. They come of the same stock, have a similar level of intelligence and education, are possessed of the same democratic traditions, and gain their livelihood in ways familiar to ourselves. Politically, however, there is the one distinction, Australia has had a long and varied experience of Labour rule.

The present party position in Australia is illuminating. Broadly speaking, it is a three-party one, but in actual practice it works generally on a two-party basis. The United Australia and the Country Parties are normally opposed to Labour. When in power they usually form a coalition. An exception to this rule is found in Victoria, where a minority Country Party Government carries on with Labour’s support. In general terms the United and the Country parties correspond to our National Party. Australia has one Commonwealth Parliament and six State Parliaments and elections for all seven have been held since Labour came to power in New Zealand, with this result: Labour rules in Tasmania, West Australia and Queensland; the Nationalists in the Commonwealth, New South Wales and South Australia. Victoria is a borderline case, neither being able really to claim to rule there. In the sum total the Nationa'ist rule is predominant in Australia owing to its being exercised in the Federal Parliament and in that of the largest State, New South Wales.

The history of Labour in Australia provides a remarkable and varied record. The earlier Ministries were much like those of our Seddon Governments. The party provided Australia with a number of brilliant and able men, and in the course of years provided the Opposition with the services of a great proportion of these statesmen. In contrast to the party here, Australian Labour has had a greater national sense. It was a Labour Government that introduced compulsory military service in Australia before the war, and a few weeks ago a Labour Premier proposed its re-introduction. In the post-war years a radical tendency manifested itself in the party. All over Australia State enterprise wore embarked upon, ranging from steelworks, brickyards, pipeworks and sawmills to cattle stations and even butcher’s shop. These enterprises were all colossal failures and left a great burden upon the nation. Finally, Labour provided Australia with the worst Government ever experienced there, the Lang regime of New' South Wales, which in the early years of the depression almost bankrupted that State. By many competent political observers, Mr. Lang is considered the Opposition's greatest triend; because he so frightened and disgusted the electors as to whao jLiaoi.u.,might do . In Australia to-day the State enterprises have been abandoned by Labour as by the other side. In any State where Labour remains in power the party has been of a Liberal type. The Australian having tasted of radicalism will have none of it. Queensland is an example. Mr. Forgan-Smith, the Premier, is a sound, practical administrator who does not indulge in radical ventures. He has held power lor many years ana was returned last week with the loss of but one seat. In New South Wales Labour holds but one-third of the seats, in this, the most industrialised State in the Commonwealth, because Labour there is socialistic.

Apart from the Lang Government, no Australian Labour Government has ever attempted such a socialistic programme as has the present Labour administration in this Dominion. There would, indeed, be no possibility of winning an . in Australia on a programme such as is being implemented to-day in New Zealand. The citizens of the Commonwealth have had too much experience of political adventuring.