AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14040, 24 April 1920, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

: SIR J. G. WARD'S VIEWS. , • Sir Joseph Ward, who,has returned to Wellington after a six weeks' visit, with Lady Ward to Australia, was interviewed by a Times representative. Sir Joseph Ward said that, with the exception that he had an acute attack of sciatica abOut ten days\after his arrival in Sydney, and was laid up for some days in consequence, he had' a very pleasant .trio. Questioned as to his views in regard to the "present political position iti New Zealand, he replied that he preferred to make no statement for publication in regard to the matter! "Not being in the boat," remarked Sir Joseph, ',' l do not intend to pull an oar." "I was.over in Australia," he-add-ed, "entirely on pleasure and for a rest and change. But I had the. opportunity of discussing with many public men the general political situation over there. The election for the New South Wales Parliament , took place while I was in the State, and it was carried out under a -proportional representation system that did not prove, in the actual forking of it, irrespective of the results, satisfactory to any party. Under their particular system the people were compelled to vote for, or put a figure indicating their preference, against the name of every candidate. In one electorate, for example, there were 21 candidates and only five members of Parliament were required, but the electors had to number off in order of choice the whole of the 21. The total vote in the 1 whole of the State was comparatively small, and numbers of people gave as the reason for it the fact that the electors were compelled to vote for all the candidates irrespective of the limited number of their actual choice. In the case referred to, for instance, they found themselves in the position of having to vote for sixteen candidates that they were not supporters of. Conscquently many did not vote at all.

"Through the split in the National Party," ho added, "there are now three parties returned to the State Parliament. The.Labor Party is the most compact and the strongest, of the 'three,. and the Prime Minister (Mr Storey) is said, by the public men who know him, to be a strong and ,capable man. He is well spoken of by representatives of each of the other parties in Parliament. But the two sections of the split party—Shat is, the Nationals and the Progressives, are, ,if combined, about equal to the total number of the Labor Party; and the situation that exists in New South Wales is thus a very embarrassing one, political equilibrium being dependent upon the very fine point of from which of the three parties the Speaker is selected,. If the Labor men select the Speaker from ' their own ranks, then the Nationals and the Progressives together will be in a majority of one. On the other hand, if one of the Nationals or one of the Progressives •is elected Speaker, the Labor Party will be i}i a majority of one. Obviously, whichever course is taken, the result will be too slender a majority for any Government to be able to effectively put into operation important measures without the concurrence or assistance of those who are opposed to them. Apart from this state of affairs political, there is a difficult situation in New South Wales, owing to an extensive drought over a considerable portion of the State, and a great deal of anxiety is felt both by public men and by citizens generally as to what the outcome of the drought is going to be. When I left they required rain within a- few weeks to prevent a serious setback in the State. It is expected as a result of the lack of rain so far there will be a considerable shrinkage of exports. In other respects, however, there is no doubt that the country is wonderfully prosperous. Its powers of recuperation after "a drought have in the past proved to be very remarkable; and I have very little doubt that the great country of Australia will, as in the past, overcome the disastrous effects of a rain shortage of a, character which, happily in this' country is not known." " . .■•..,

"Sydney itself, since my last visit some six years a2O, has advanced marvellously. Its population numbers about 800,000, and its 'residential areas have extended in every direction. In the" city itself magnificent commercial buildings have taken the place of many of "the other structures. One of the notable buildings that has .just been completed has been erected by- the Union Steam Shin Company. It is a great building of many storeys, m a fine position in .the city. The Commonwealth Bank is another outstanding instance of a great building towering high, the internal arrangements of which are all of the most modern kind. The wonderful ferry services of Sydney have grown enormously as a result of the expansion of the suburbs across the harbor. I have been in many,parts of the world, and I must say that one of the finest sights On the water at night is distinctly to be found in Sydney Harbor. The ferry boats are palatia'lly and 011 c night I counted as many as 21 of them in sight at one tim».

I had intended to visit Melbourne, having been invited to go there; but. unfortunately, mv unexpected temporary lay-up in Sydney made it impossible for mo to do so and get back to New Zealand within the date that I had 'fixed before leaving. The tariff brought down by the Commonwealth Government while I was in Australia,, creating a much stronger protective system than existed before, naturally was the subject of great discussion among the financial, the mercantile, and the farming circles. Jt certainly has had a mixed reception. Those who'look forward to the develpment of manufacturing industries are strong supporters of the new tariff; but, on the other hand,' there is a section of the community who regard the present and prospective financial position of Australia with some trepidation, because thev recognise that a considerable reduction of imports must, in the ordinary course take.place, and that the loss of revenue caused thereby will for a time mean an increase-in the other taxation of the country. The tariff has yet. hnwp.ver, to go through the Federal Parliament; and it is expected in some nuarters that,, as in similar cases in other countries, some material alterations will be made before it is finally passed.