AN AUSTRALIAN SPLIT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 3 July 1911, Page 3

AN AUSTRALIAN SPLIT.

LABOUR AND THE REFERENDA.

("Post" Australian Correspondent.)

| Mr. Beeby, Minister for Education and Labour "in the (Labour) Ministry of New South Wales, has spoken out against the official Labour attotude upon the referendum. Has reasons are in part those already urged here as i-epreseiM-ing the judgment of a great many Australian- voters. The constitutional amend-meht-s proposed are unnecessarily wide; there is a reasonable •difference of opinion; and defeat of the amendments will not be a matter of great moment. "The Federal Government can at once pas's legislation referring (to another referendum proposing amendments of the Constitution on which all parties are practically agreed. One would he the amendment of the industrial sect-ion of the Constitution —wide enough, to enable the Federal- Court to effectively deal -with the industrial conditions of all industries of a national character in which inter-State competition makes the cotndi. tiona in oinie State dfcpend on the conditions in another. The other is one to give the Federal Parliament definite power todeal, with trusts and combinations, and all monopolies that affect the Commonwealth as a whole. The reference of these -matters to the Commonwealth would, I believe, be carried by an overwhelming majority." Mr. Beeby said he was emphatically of opinion that the Labour proposals went more than half-way to-wards unification ; and he renewed the sound contention that it would be a mistake to graft a unification policy on the Federal stock. There is a clear distinction in principle and plan between a Federation such, as the Australian and' a Unicm such a 6 the South African. Mr. Beeby pointed out that the logical way to Australian unification is lirslb to admit the principle and to alter the plan—as, for example, by reconstituting the Senate upon .a population basis, instead' of upon the present basis of State equality representation independently erf population. Then the official Labour claim to centralise the States' power's would follow naturally. Mr. Beeby, as you lately hacVan opportunity; of observing, is decidedly a Oioughtiul and intelligent politician; and his utterance is a sign of the tendency of the general opinion, which is expected to result in a negative vote at the referendum. If. Mr. Beeby had not felt that he had strong public support he would scarcely have dared to class himeieilf so distinctly, along with. Mr. Holman, as a "traitor" to "the Miovemen.t." His sspech. amounts to an open defiance of the recent Labour Conference. That Conference only suspended its sentence of excommunication against referendum, malcontents on the understanding they would not publicly oppose the official propaganda. Mr. Holman, .the arch-malcontent, has accordingly said nothing that could be construed as an appeal to vote "No." Mr. i Beeby has ranged himself definitely against "the Movement." "The Movement" is getting farther into difficulties. The Labour bureaucracy has divided its supporters upon an issue which, so far as "the Movement" is concerned, is really a false issue. There is nothing in the Labour platform, or in Labour principles, which prevent* an honest Labour man from gomig either half-way with Mr. Herman or all the way with Mr. Hughes. Consequently, there is no occasion, to make so violent an attack upon the rights of private judgment, and free speech. The official Labour party has clearly made a mistake in strategy. To use an expres sdv-e vulgarism, "it has bitten off more than, it can chew."

The consequences will certainly be damaging to the party in New Soutih Wales. The Labour Ministry is equal ly divided, as regards its leading members, into opponents and supporters of the referendum. Mr. Beeby's ontwpoken address means probably that- the ".'iplit" has become .a gulf; and that the Miaustrv will bo reeonsitructed immediately alter tlio rcferend'Hm. It in said that Mr (lin Premier, now on. hip way tu-attend the Coronation ..-eremony, may presently take the Agent-General s ,p!a.o. arid that Mr. Beo,l>v, and' Mr. Hoi'.mau \vill retire —or will be out—from'tlio Ministry, and will remain in Parliament a& Independents. This i.«sue us likely, and the transference of votes, as well as of capacity, will make it difficult for the Government to carry on. Another gcnera.l election this rear is therefore a possibility, but not vet a probability.