SOME COMMONWEALTH CELEBRITIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6872, 16 July 1909, Page 6

SOME COMMONWEALTH CELEBRITIES.

THE HON. C. G. WADE, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES. (By T. E. Taylor, M.P.) Tho Premiei* of New South Males is a man who strikes one at first glance as tho antithesis of the popular political leader. He suggests reserve. 1 cannot imagine him engaging in a contest for political honours if success involved a display of feeling in any person or subject which had to be assumed. Ho certainly would not waste time in kissing babies. He looks so substantially honest that one instinctively feels that tho New South Wales Parliament must possess a rare power of discrimination, and the people of the State aro to be congratulated that such discrimination has places! him iu power, lie is physically an uncommonly .strong man, and 1 imagine his capacity for work is abnormal, in former years he excelled in athletic sports, and looks as though ho still manages to steal sufficient time from the cares of office to keep himself in good lorm. Ho is the most scholarly looking of Australian Premiers, ido not mean that he has any of tho appearances which the word “scholarly” sometimes suggests. He is the opposite of the pale-complexion-ed, stooping student, who, blossoming into the curate, wins the sympathetic admiration of neurotic maidens. He is a. powerfully-built man with a big, strong-looking head, but tho scholarly appearance is related to tho quiet dignity and force which impress themselves instantly upon anyone meeting the New South Wales Premier for tho first time. No man can remain in politics and be utterly contemptuous of the somewhat petty means which are used to commend

politicians and political parties to the public. If he rises artifices to serve his political ambition ho will nso them as seldom as most men, and will wish the contest could be waged without them. His very instincts force him into political courses that enthusiastic political reformers will denounce as Conservative. lie is an individualist because he is conscious of his personal strength. Ho is essentially a spue roan, whoso judgment is so well balanced that he lacks the natural forces that create demonstrative public opinion. His mental temperament and intellectual habit prevent him from offering the people a universal, panacea. He does not believe the evils and inequalities of human existence are removable except by much prayer and fasting and more hard work. In choosing the law as a profession he found scope for his instinctive love, of order and precedent. I believe the administrative work of his position as Premier attracts him far more than the legislative side docs. He believes more in labour than in legislation as the basis tor individual and national progress. He looks as though justice would bo an instinct with him, and I can imagine him feeling sick enough to abandon politics when something just under ethical standards requires to be done in the party interest. If the charm of Federal politics seizes upon him it is highly probable that he will becomo a force in the Commonwealth Parliament, making for stability, order and economy. Whilst ho remains in politics he will antagonise radical sentiment because of his refusal to endorse or assist heroic schemes for the salvation of the race; ho will fail to arouse much enthusiasm amongst his political supporters because ho cannot announce himself as the only man of political insight or integrity; he. will not figure attractively with the rank and file of the public because he detests theatrical displays; but he will leave behind him when ho quits cilice a reputation for capable, clean administration when the standard of judgment is normal. I judge him to be in private life constant in his friendships and jealous in their formation, and it is certain that he is one of the very large number of prominent public men in Australasia whose private lives redeem all the errors of judgment they may make in their public positions. >

THE HON W. KIDSTON, PEEHIEE, OF QUEENSLAND. If any testimony ■was needed to prove the tremendous vitality of the Labour Party in Australia, the alliance existing between antagonistic sections of other 'political parties would supply it. Combine and compromise to keep Labour off the throne is the -watchword of interests that consider themselves menaced by triumphant Labour. In the Federal Parliament Deakin and Cook have fused their forces to drag Labour from administrative power- In ’Queensland, Philp and Kidston are combined to seciro the same cud. In New South Wales a similar blending of conflicting , personalities and parties holds Labour's rule in abeyance. In the other States of the Commonwealth the party of privilege in politics and commerce watch the Labour Party’s excellent organisation and their splendid zeal with openly expressed concern. On Hay 21st, this year, the "Sydney Morning Herald" remarks editorially; "Can we help predicting anything less than a Liberal debacle if the Liberal electors in the Commonwealth are to be kept divided simply because their leaders in -Parliament will not come together and agree upon a common policy and create a common organisation," and again: "The Labour Party is the only one in the Federal Parliament with a constructive policy to put. and it is the only part that is putting it." Queensland is probably regarded in the Commonwealth as the State in which the Labour Party is most vigorous. The career of the present Premier, the Hon. W, ICidstou, is a text-book on the development of political forces and methods in that State. ' , . Formerly a leader of the Labour Party, ho is to-day • the object of their relentless hostility. When he broke from the official Labour Party he had to make other alliances to retain

power. Ho was returned last general election with a following of about twenty-four members out of a total of seventy. As the official Labour Party won twenty-two seats, it was clear that some combination was essential to enable a Ministry to be formed capable of carrying on the business of the State. Tho Hon. R. Philp bad a following <y about twenty-four members. As Philp s party was entirely hostile to the Labour group, and as Kidston’s party was almost as hostile, the line of least resistance was followed, and the 1 hilp-

Kidstou parties effected a fusion, with the Hon. W. Kids ton as Premier, and a composite Cabinet from which tho Hon. Robert Philo voluntary excluded himself. "Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned,” and in Commonwealth politics the Labour party make a political hell for tho man whom they believe has betrayed their cause. In Queensland, since tho Philp-Kidston combination was effected to hold tho ambitions of tho democratic party in check. Labour has sought to humiliate Kidston. It is not that his administration or legislative proposals aro evil. It is, they believe, essential that the cause of Labour should avenge itself upon the man wiio refuses further allegiance to its officiil mandates. Labour has been so often made the medium for tiie gratification of personal ambition, its aims have been so often thwarted by the very • men i j trusted and helped into power, that the spirit of the Corsican vendetta enters into disputes between Official Labour and deserters from its ranks.

Just now skilful intrigue has so far embarrassed and disorganised the Kid-ston-Philp coalition that the position of the Ministry is cons.dered critical, it is said that Official Labour has offered tno Labour inch returned in support of Kidston tho right to allocate lo themselves all the Cabinet positions if they will desert Kidston and ally themselves with the Official Labour party again. This may not bo true, but it is freely stated to bo tho case in Brisbane, if it is true it indicates the price Labour is willing to paj; to its authority over those it invests with political power. _ It can create, but it is relentless iu its discipline and the penance it enforces. When ono knows of tho treachery of which the democracies of tho world are constantly being made victims, the Spartan methods of Labour to enforce its authority have a full justificaiion.

It would bo an impossible task to adjudicate between Labour and the Hon. iV. iurfston. JVo human passion exceeds in violence that which claims to liavo treason as a justification, Tne La-uour-Kidstou dispute has many points, and I investigate none in this sketch. What puzzled mo most as I sat talking to the object of the‘Labour parties’ antagonism was to know how he permitted 'himself to drift into the turbulent stream of politics. There is a total absence of the iilephistophelian appearance about the Hon. W. Kinston. Of about aaiddlc height, ho is comfortably clad with body, although not a very heavy .man. He looks iuce one to whom the joys of tile table would appeal, although ho is, 1 believe, a personal abstainer. Ho is just the sort of man around ■ whose ' knees children - would cling on winter nights, when, after dinner and before a blazing lire, tho family gather for story-telling, a placid natured man, far removed from those whoso restless spirits plot treason. The average man in Brisbane credits him witli a good record of legislative and administrative work. Tho clash of faction has certainly defeated some of the land legislation he proposed, which would, if carried, have led Australasia in land reform. I fudge him honestly desirous of giving all men an equal opportunity for securing to themselves the fruits of their toil. , Population and production with him are the two greatest needs of the great State of which ho is tho political chief. To secure the latter he has made strenuous efforts to extend railway construction, both by the State and by private .enterprise aided by tho State. To secure the increase in population for 'which Queensland languishes, extensive and judicious advertising is being employed with considerable success. _ • During a conversation which had special reference to the vast area of land in Queensland which is yet unoccupied, he went to a man of the State which hung upon the wall of his room, and placing the upper portion of his thumb upon the spot marking the site of Brisbane and its suburbs, he remarked:

“That fragment of our State contains one-third of its population.” When one accounts for tho, population of the other large coastal towns north of Brisbane the emptiness of the State becomes an impressive fact. If the energies dissipated in party strife could be directed to the winning of new citizens to extract the amazing wealthof the great Queen State, a magical growth in newer and material prosperity would instantly follow.