AUSTRALIA TO-DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16889, 29 December 1916, Page 8

AUSTRALIA TO-DAY

(From Odb Own Cobresfondekt.) SYDNEY, December 20.

As was expected, tho Hughes Ministry Hty>ply Bill, providing funds for threw months, having boen passed through tho Mou.so of Ropreseaitatives with tho aid of tho Liberals, met with opposition in the Senate, where, there, ia a largo anti-Hughes majority. Tho Senato recommended that tho amount of supply be considerably reduced, so Uiafc Parliament would havo to moot again early in the New Vfear. 'J'lio House was ine.Unrd to light tho matter, but tho Sonato was obdurate;.

While negotiations were going on, the payment of salaries, all through tho Civil Service, was held up. This is a development that is known in many countries as thu result of aggrieved persona holding up supply, but it is a development that never gains in popularity. Thcoro were subdued riots in many Federal Departments on .Saturday morning when no pay envelopes were forthcoming. By this time it was known that a compromise had been effected, and tho Supply Bill passed, but official information in that direction had not been received outside of Melbourne, and Red Tape. had to have ite way. The majority of employees waited until Monday, but certain belligerent classes of men —tho Sydney let-ter-carriers for one —threatened aji immcdiato strike if wages were not paid forthwith —and tho wages wero paid ! The. House of Representatives accepted tho reductions "recommended " by tho Senate. No other course was open to tho Cabinet. Therefore, Parliament •will reassemble in February or March, and it is supposed that almost immediately thereafter there will bo a dissolution and a general election. By that time, as stated elsewhere, tho demand for conscription will probably have been revived, and the election, quite probably, will be fought on that issue. A victory for tho Hughes PartyLiteral oombination would then mean an introduction of conscription >>y proclamation. A victory for tho Political Labour Leagues would certainly reeult in the discouragement of recruiting, and, possibly, tho reduction of the Australian forces abroad and tho initiation of a peace agitation Those who know him best belieyo that Mr Hughes has far more confidence in the result of a general election than ho had in tho recent conscription referendum. Such an election will bo interesting in that it will mako clear tho real moaning of tho referendum vote. ANXIOUS PREMIERS. After having spent four days considering their financial straits, and in interviews with Uio Federal Primo Minister, tho State Premiers onded their conference last week, and dispersed, still preserving secrecy with regard to tho details of tho new agreement entered into with tlft commonwealth. It was, for them, a trying week. All are in financial difficulties, and all feared that tho summoning of the conference by the commonwealth meant that thesa difficulties were to bo increased. In this, they wero not disappointed. After their first interview with the Federal Primo Minister and Treasurer, the Premiers admitted that the position was serious, that, they would havo to do some deep thinking, and that sweeping economics would have to bo effected. Five of tho s ; x States are content to allow the commonwealth to raise the loan moneys they require for public works, and theso States wero acquainted with the amounts they are likely to receive next year. Now South Wales, which stands outside the agreement, nevertheless sent representatives to find out if tho new offer was sufficient to induce it to join in. One glance was enough for it, and as a result the State intends to make its own application to the London money market. All of tho other Premiers wero seriously concerned 'by the statement mado to them by tho commonwealth Ministers, though none of them would admit anything. The Premiers wero given confidential information that is disturbing, if not actually alarming. Tho necessity for vigorously conducting tho war means that there is very littlo money availablo for public purposes. Tho Premiers, however, prefer to keep t.he'T information secret for tho present. Everything points to the fact that if it were disclosed, the cause for immediate and rigorous enonomy would become unanswerable. This conference, by tho way. approved of a resolution which meant, in effect, that I.W.W. agitators and others of that ilk should be summarily dealt with. AUSTRALIAN FINANCES.

It is estimated that tho total war expenditure of Australia as on Juno 30, 191 V, will be £136,386,000. In the unlikely event of the war having -ended by that date, that would not by any means represent the total war bill. There would have to be added the deferred pay duo to tho soldiers (about £10,000,000), tho various huge sums due to the British Government for maintenance and equipment of Australian troops abroad, tho cost of bringing tho Australian troops homo again, and so onall items that will add millions to the total.

The directions in which the money goes are indicated by the following items taken from the detailed Australian accounts for the period from August, 1914, to November, 1916: —Pay and field allowances, £34.000,000; rations, £3,500,000; uniforms and kits, £5,852,C00; harness, saddlery, accountrernents, £4,472.000; transport, hire of ships,' refitting, victualling, £15,300,000. From this total there may bo* deducted £4,300,000 received for carrying goods and other services performed by the transports. Of the money required, £81,000,000 has been borrowed in Australia and £50,000,000 in Britain. A sum of only about £10,000,000 is being provided out of revenue for war purposes, so that the interest and sinking fund for that huge war bill is going to fall directly on tho taxpayer. Seeing what is coming from tho Federal taxing departments, the States are making attempts to put their houses in order. Tlip.ir efforts have been somewhat puny so far, serving but to emphasise the gloominess of their financial outlook. New South Wales is in a slightly worse position than any of them, yet the State is typical of tho others. The .State's debt is now £133.000,000. Much of tho total is the result of wild orgies of borrowing by recent Labour Governments. The expenditure of tho money has involved the employment of some thousands of men on public works of various sorts, and among these the "Government stroke" has not been unknown. Tho now State Government, acting probably as much under tho dictates of common sense as according to the necessities of war conditions, has announced a reduction in borrowing and a curtailment of public works. Immediately there has eomo a long, loud wail from the Labour unions, which think they sec an insidious attempt to remove their privileges, and to force them by unemployment into the ranks of the army. The Government li-.s replied, in effect, that 75,000 abW-bodied men have left the State, so there should be no unemployment; that an abundant season has provided plenty of work in the country; and that unless borrowing is reduced nevy taxes will be necessary, to be super-added to the inevitable new war taxes levied by tho Federal authorities. THE COST OF GOVERNORS. Driven by their rapidly-growing financial difficulties, the various State Governments, arc seeking new directions in which they can economise, and they are threatening to bring their Governors under the pruningknifc. The proposal, which emanated from New South Wales, was officially before the Premiers' Conlereneo in Melbourne last week.

The suggestion is that the- Chief Justice of each State shall become the head of the State Executive, and that tho Federal Go-vernor-Goneral bo given a sort of general supremacy over the States, so that he shall bi> a link between tho State Governments and the Crown, just as he is now between tho Commonwealth Government and the Crown.

It is estimated that if this system were put into operation a saving of £36,534 per annum would bo effected. Tho upkeep of all vice-regal establishments in Australia now costs £71,139 per annum, and £34,605 of this ."-oes to tho Governor-General, us follows Salary. £10,000; secretary, £650; Governor's, establishment, £5572; and miscellaneous, £ e 523. It is supposed that this expenditure might go on —though there are those who think it could be considerably reduced without " any loss of efficiency,"—but the following expenses might be altogether abolished: —-New South Wales —Governor'ft salary, £5000; other expenses, £7910;— total. £12,910. Victoria— £5000 and £4354 Queensland—£2Bss and £4520. South Australia—£sooo and £1496. West Australia—£4ooo and £2500. Tasmania— £2750 and £1003.

It is not known -what view of tho matter was taken by tho» Premiers' Conference. But changes along these lines are thought to be inevitable—indeed, there are many who say that such a step would be merely preliminary to a drastic cutting down of the State parliamentary system. Tho .maintenance ' of the fix State Parliaments, in Addition 1o the Federal Houses, costs many hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum, ami results mostly in exaggerated parochialism and endless political turmoil ""'another conscription campaign.

Just before the war Dr Ward , ., the wellknown editor of tho Sydney Daily Telegraph, retired into private life. The other day, it was announced that the virile old •Minllomea—he is nearly 70—was going: north.

to edit the Brisbane* Telegraph. Speaking at a Journalists' Institute gathering-, he. explained that at this lime lie wanted to do (something for hi;, country. The. rejection of conscription by Australia Jiad affected him greatly, but Jio foresaw that the matter c-ould not rest where thoughtlessness, selfishness, and disloyalty had now placed it. Presently, there would bej another cry for compulsory service, and bo wanted to bo in a position to add liis voice and inlbience to its successful prosecution. So he. bad conic hack into journalism. Dr Ward. voiced a belief that is rapidly growing in Australia- The Federal authorities si-is doing everything possible to get the rncjj required by the voluntary sys-itoin — but it is generally thought that the effort will fail. The. method so loudly advocated by the anti-corj.scriptioiiists will be given a perfectly fair trial. When it is proved ineffective, tho demand for compulsory service will again arise, more insistent, than ever. That will perhaps bo three or four months honco.

Somewhat sharp criticism of the manner in which Mr Hughes guided the recent effort to introduce conscription suggests that different methods may bo employed next time. Mr Hughes has been told that ho made a fatal blunder in calling up men for training before ho hiul the power to send them abroad; that ho spent £600.000 and accomplished nothing beyond greatly irritating the people directed. And it has been said, also, that conscription should have been introduced by proclamation, and not by tho vote of the people. The latter argument is scarcely fair to Mr Hughes, who could never have got his then Cabinet to agree to such a proclamation.

LOYALTY OF POLITICAL LABOUR LEAGUE.

The political organisation of Australian Labour generally takes its time from tho Political Labour Lcaguo of New taouth Wales. This fact gives added , significance to certain mysterious activities ol tho latter body. Tno P.L.L. fought tho conscription proposal with tooth and claw, and one ol its principal arguments was that voluntary recruiting had not been given a fair chance. The Federal authorities havo now initiated a vigorous voluntary campaign, and it was thought that tho P.L.L., in order to provide a counter-biast to recent ugly aspersions upon its loyalty, would assist in the appeal for recruits. But tho P.L.L. instead of displaying enthusiasm, has shown a sort of suiKy acquiescence in the proposal. Instead, it has been showing much more interest in tho agitation for tho reduction of tjie sentences recently imposed on tho I.W.W. incendiaries and criminals

Now comes a most startling , report—that tho P.L.L. has decided against any assistance being: given to voluntary recruiting, and that a few of tho more decent-minded members have broken away from the executive as a protest. Tho P.L.L. Ims furi ously denied that thia report of its secret meeting is correct. It declares that it merely resolved to oppose any form of _rcciuiting which involved pressure, being brought to boar on. eligible men by their employers. Otherwise, it says, it will support recruiting , . ; The fact remains, however, that (his body and the Sydney Labour Council have_ been openly associated with certain notoriously disloyal element?: that onranisixl Labour is showing no enthusiasm in tho recruiting campaign—is displaying, instead, a tendency to lay down intolerable conditions as the prico of its support; and that some of tho better class of men attached to the P.L.L. are now inclined to dissociate themselves from the executive of that body. Some far-sccmg men here do not hesitate to say that, very soon, this "secret junta" will start an anti-recruitiriff, peaec-at anyprico campaign. It is almost incredible, yet those who know the P.L.L. best expect the worst and ugliest things from it. It has had matters much its own way for a long time now, but even the average Australian, who docs not tremble much about political rights and worms, is beginning to see that this body, which speaks in tho name of democracy, is actuated , solely by class hatred and intense class selfishness. Once lob it show itself openly disloyal—and ■• ■: •••il-iusly close to that now —and that will bo the certain end of the power of the P.L.L. For Australia, in spite of •-crtain unfortunate signs to the contrary, is fervently loyal, and overwhelmingly m favour of the continuance of a fight for the complete attainment of the thinjrs for which the Allies have made such sacrifices. PICTURE CENSORSHIP WELCOMED. The decision of tho authorities that there shall be a. much closer censorship of moving picture films has been received everywhere with expressions of satisfaction, lhere is now a picture "show" in every suburb and every hamlet, and uncountable kinema palaces in the cities—and, up till recently, extraordinary license has been allowed the showmen. While the managers of some circuits displayed good judgment and commendable firmness in declining films of a questionable character, others hayo_ made their theatres notorious for the '' risque nature of their picture plays. In some cases, to bo seen coming out of certain picturetheatres is to have oneself placed in an undesirable class. There have been many protests against these immoral and indecent exhibitions—to which the gentlemen most concerned have generally replied with a cry of "Wowser." But, to the people of reasonably deceru minds, there has been nothing Miore irriUtino- than the appearance in the betterknown picture palaces, in the guise of "social problems" or "moral lesson plays, of pictures of a. most suggestive and objectionable character. If such pictures were put forward frankly as an appeal to morbid or prurient minds, for money-making purposes, they could be dealt with on _ thenmerits but when picture managers insinuate these 'productions into well-known theatres as serving some lofty educational or moral purpose, °and then 'have to engage extra clerks to handle tho 'box office recepits, it_ is recognised that the cemmunitv is faced with a creeping evil that must be drastically dealt with. Several such picture-plays have appeared recently in Sydney and Melbourne. The advertisements have been decorated with lines like "For ladies only," "No one under 16 admitted," and the crowds, unashamed, have packed the places to the doors. It is apparently the growing boldness of the importers of undesirable pictures that has at last aroused tho authorities to action. There have been meetings of film proprietors, and deputations have interviewed Ministers and nssurrd them of their good intentions, and that the proposed censorship will cause great inconvenience and loss. But the authorities are adamant, and the very desirable censorship proposed is to operate.