THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTRY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 21

THE COMMONWEALTH MINISTRY

MELBOURNE, April 28. The federal Premier. Mr Watson, addressing the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, said die was not prepared to state what tlhe Government programme would consist oif, but it would certainly include the pushing on of a Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. All of Mr Deakin’s supporters were present-at a caucus, including those who voted with the Government on the Arbitration Bill amendment. Mr Dcukin was elected leader. The Roklit.es mustered in full strength at their caucus, and carried a vote of confidence in Mr Reid. The question of a coalition was mentioned at both meetings, but it was decided that nothing should be done until the Government’s intentions are known. Mr Watson ha,s forwarded through the London “Daily Chronicle” the following appeal! to the workers of Great- Britain : “I would appeal to the British trades unionists and working men generally to hold their .judgment of the Labour party in Australia and the future of the Labour Government in suspense, and not believe the biassed stories which certain persons may from interested motives bo only too ready to pour into their ears about our proposals aind aims.” The first Cabinet meeting of the new Ministry lias decided to refuse the entrance of ten Chinese, who arrived atPort Darwin with State exemption certificates. In accordance with the recent decision, the federal Government will not recognise State certificates Hairless the holders prove to be old residents with vested interests. MELBOURNE, April 29. The new Premier of the Commonwealth, Mr Watson, has received confrom all parts, including New Zealand. Mr Watson says lie does not think it likely that the Labour party will attempt to put any pressure on Ministers. The members of that party will, he considers, prefer to keep to their own functions, knowing that Ministers have to rely on the experience of office. He could not say what practicable projects of the Labour party were not intended to be .carried out immediately, but he hoped the means would be found within a reasonable time for the realisation of their ideals. Referring to the statements made by the “St. James Gazette,” Mr Watson said assuming that the actual Labour programme had been published, there wa-s nothing in it not in consonance with the views he had forwarded to London, and the carrying of it out did not necessarily involve extravagant- finance. Nothing would be done by the Government that was not on a strictly commercial basis. The party’s programme did not in any way contradict his statement, The Government would pay a proper regard to the finances and prevent wasteful expenditure, The reason he did not make the statement to the Melbourne press that he cabled to the London press was that it seemed to him necessary to take early steps to allay any fear thaUjnight be felt in England regarding the financial policy of the new Government. As far as Australia was concerned Parliament would have the first statement in the matter. SYDNEY, April 29. In the course of an interview on the position which has arisen in federail politics, Mr G. R. Reid, leader of the freetcado party, which practically comprised the Opposition prior to the defeat of the Deakin Ministry, said in lus opinion Mr Deakin did not follow the constitutional course in advising Lord Northcote, Governor-General, to summon Mr Watson. If such advice had been given to a man of larger colonial experience, lie would have put questions to Mr Deakin which would have brought out the unsoundness of the- course. In a non-committal reference to a possible coalition, Mr Reid said the present situation wa,s an aggravation of all the other trouble which Australia was exposed to at the present time. It- seemed to him that it was incumbent upon those members intending to sit in the Opposition to see whether it was possible to meet the present extraordinary crisis by joint action. LONDON, April 27. The replacing of Mr Beakin’s Cabinet by a Labour Ministry lia-s not affected the prices 'of colonial stocks. LONDON, April 28. The “Daily Chronicle” , anticipates that Mr Watson will follow a necessarily moderate policy. “Labour,” the journal adds, “is in office, but not yet in unfettered power.” The “Financial News” says the circumstances of the present grouping of the Commonwealth Parliament will act as a check on socialistic experiments, and it extends the Ministry a friendly welcome. The “News” goes on to say: “It is fatal to assume the absence of danger because the party i!s circumspeab in arranging the order of precedence of its demands. Nevertheless, while a certain sort of extravagant works may be feared, there is no- special realsen to fear the accentuation of a policy, such as the building of msek-ss railways, which has lately been bringing Australian credit into sore disrepute. That policy does not lie specially at the doors of the Labour party.”

Mr John Brums, Radical member for Battersea, is confident that Mr Watson will establish a precedent for the entire Labour world. He trusts that he will temper his authority with toleration and his government with generosity.