OUR FEDERAL ELECTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 19 August 1910, Page 8

OUR FEDERAL ELECTION.

In the "Contemporary Review," Senator St. Ledger discusses the causes and probable effects of the Labour-So-cialist victory at the Commonwealth general election. The main points of his arguments will be familiar to Australians, though they will, no doubt, have a fresh interest for readers in the United Kingdom, who are not conversant wan the details of our politics. He points out that the result was a surprise to both victors and vanquished—to the victors because of their overwhelming majority in both Houses, and "to'the vanquished because of the exceptionally good work done by the defeated Fusion Ministry. Upon its record that Ministry had. he contends, a setter right than any since federation was established, to expect a convincing national vote cf confidence. That it failed to secure the vote he attributes to nast errors of the anti-socialist groups. From he foundation of the Commonwealth those groups were at continual and implacable war with each other. As a consequence, there have been no fewer than seven different Ministries in powe> since 1901. Twice-the Labour-Socialists were allowed to take office on sufferance, and then were almost instantly removed, accordingly as the sections of Liberals chose to place or displace them. Such tactics seemed to electors a mean way of squabbling over office. Hence, when the time came for putting up a united fight against socialism the people, "not inexcusably, misunderstood the position, and thought it- was the same old racket, the same old strife all over again, the same old hunt for the Treasury benches." Thus "the Fusion Government, which appealed this time to the electors of Australia on clear-cut and unmistakable issues, has suffered, and paid, for the sins of the Parliamentary juggling- and dishing of parties." Senator St. Ledger dwells also upon the present failure of the Senate, both as a

House of States and as a revising chamber, owing to the complete subservience cf its Labour-Socialist majority to the partv caucus. The wor?t effect which he anticipates from Labour domination is a check upon the immigration which is vital to the future progress of Australia. He concludes with a strong appeal for better organisation of Libera! votes, and a vigorous educational propapaganda of Liberal principles. —"Argus '