MR DEAKIN'S SPEECH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 4

MR DEAKIN'S SPEECH

Fusion lias certainly not imparted rigidity to Mr Dealnn’s backbone, nor inspired Him with a programme tlrat cam be taken to appeal with even moderate force to the political faith of his countrymen. If his speech at Ballarat, reported for us by cable this morning, was seriously delivered

as'an indication of the issues on which tho Federal elections are to be fought, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that never since tho Commonwealth came into being has so flat, so unsuggestive, so essentially barren a pronouncement been made by the leader of the dominant party in the national Parliament. Apart from a recommendation to the electors to sanction an amendment of the Constitution with a view to permitting two exceedingly questionable financial measures to become law, tho only points emerging from Mr Deakin’s generalities are an assurance that tho Government is prepared to listen to reason and amend the tariff “ apart from theory and political doctrine ”; that it will deal with unemployment in a modest way by “ticking off the unemployable ”; that the Government hopes to get good advice about defo.nce from Lord Kitchener; that it would be a disappointment if two important railways were not built; and that ho hoped to se© IV ages Boards general throughout Australia.

And this is all—this inconsequential succession of hopes and* this unattractive promise of backstairs tariff tinkering—that a man of national reputation can offer in a country where the land positively shrieks for populat on and deliverance from tho clutch of monopoly 1 Mr Deakin was a fine asset to progressive Australia until his courage evaporated. He now gives promise of being equally valuable in another capacity to the forces which drew him a half-willing captive to the ranks of Conservatism. Upon such important questions as tho capital site, 1 the State debts and the financial relations of the Commonwealth to the States he has played a part which sadly discounts his past career, , and by severance from the most effective influences upon the democratic instincts of tho people strayed into the desert from which comes the halting, indefinite voice we hoax % to-day. Many thousands of people viewed Mr Doakin’e transfer to allegiance with his old-time opponents with the deepest regret, foreseeing the distinct loss his services to Australian nationalism and Liberal progress would be. Few, however, oould have foreseen that his individuality would so quickly perish, or that “political suicide” would be so soon accomplished as appears now to be the case. Impartial outsiders will find it hard to entertain hopes of Mr Doakin having any great measure of success at the polls upon a policy like this now before them. If he does win through it will surely be more upon the strength of a great' reputation than present claims to confidence.