The Northland Age WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE MANGONUI COUNTY TIMES” “THE BAY OF ISLANDS TIMES” AND “THE NORTH AUCKLAND AGE.” FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1925 FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 30, 13 November 1925, Page 4

The Northland Age WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE MANGONUI COUNTY TIMES” “THE BAY OF ISLANDS TIMES” AND “THE NORTH AUCKLAND AGE.”

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1925 FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Terms of Subserlptlou . 12/6 PER YEAR (in advance). Postage to any j»art included.

There is only one issue before the people of Australia to-morrow. It is whether Australia is to be ' ruled along constitutional lines, j •r whether government is to be j usurped by irresponsible extrem- i ists. As in New Zealand, the people of the Commonwealth have a fairly demoeratic and sane system of government. Parliament is elected on adult franchise. The laws must have the approval of a majority of the people’s representatives. If any outside body usurps the function of government then we have mob j rule. The recent experience of Queensland proved that. For several days the railway unions ruled the State, and rode roughshod over the Government. If : that sort of thing is to prevail, it means the end of democratic government. Ultimately it means anarchy and chaos. Australian parliaments and politicians may be far from ideal, but they are at least infinitely preferable to the extremists who are trying to control that country. The Federal Government is simply taking up the attitude that the elected representatives of the people shall rule. Federal Labour men contend that they fully agree with that principle, but by supporting the extremist, behind the seamen's strike —which had nothing to do with Australia —they invested a section of the community with a greater power than parliament. The fact is that a gang of agitators, mostly imported, are devoted to persuading militant unionists that they should run Australia along Russian Soviet lines. Life in Australia under such rule would be unbearable, and the sooner the issue is fought to a inish the better. We believe that the great majority of tradeunionists will take advantage of the present election to show their resentment at having the troubles ot the old world foisted on them. They want a stable government that will give a fair deal all round, and we believe they will go for such a government tomorrow.