OUR VICTORIAN LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 58

OUR VICTORIAN LETTER

(Fbom Our Own Cokrespoxdext.) MELBOURNE, April 22. The Tasmanian elections, which resulted in sucr. a complete defeat of the Govern taent, were really indicative of a broader desire for reform than appeared on the sur 'face. They were really the outcome of a feeling which is growing in strength every day, though without much public expression of it, that State Parliaments must practically disappear in face of Federation. We Australians are fast arriving at the conclusion that we are- being dreadfully overgoverned. Fancy Tasmania with all She paraphernalia of a Governor and two Houses of Parliament for a population not half that of Melbourne ; while all the while it -hiw to bear its share of the expense of « Governor-general and two Houses of Parliament for sic Commonwealth. The Governor has a Government House, which has to be maintained, and a staff ; each House of Parliament has a Speaker and clerks and Bergeant-at-arms and Hansard staff, etc. The thing is an absolute "absurdity, and, as S have said, ihe result of the elections is xftidotibtedly attributable to the conviction *hat this is so. It 13 a kind of instinctive-, tihexpressed protest against the over-govern-ment. The Federation has taken over Customs, Defence, Post and Telegraphs. There is no earthly reason why it should not also lake over railways and education ; and lands and mines could be dealt with, if not by the Federation, then by a system of boards for each State. In this case there would be nothing left for the State Parliaments and State Governments to do. As it is, with customs, defence, and post and telegraphs taken from them, it is highly ridiculous that the Ministries should be continued at their former strength and former cost in the shape of salaries. As for the State Governors, they are utterly useless ; and, whatever is done as regards abolishing State Parliaments, plainly enough the days of State Governors are drawing to a close. ■You must understand that whilst Federation was being discussed the abolition of State Legislatures was prudently kept in the background. That would have been too radical a change, and if it had been seriously suggested probably Federation would never have been carried. Now that Federation jis in full working order, however, the multiplicity of Governments and Legislatures, and especially of Governors, is «e~n to be ridiculous. Just at present we in Victoria are actually without a parliamentary session, to our great relief. The State Parliament has iust song out of session — exhausted with the task of reforming itself, which it did to only about the necessary extent. But the Commonwealth Parliament will begin to sit again at the end of May, w that the relief is only brief. Sir Edmund Barton and Mr Kingston are at present on tour speechify£ng. in view of the next general election, '■which falls at the end of thi3 year. Mr George Reid will not attempt to turn the fefinietry out this session, bui will await *.he outcome of the general election. It is beginning to be doubtful whether he will All depends upon the Labour ©arty, and the Barton Ministry are bidding fiigh for its support. Mr Kingston is in Queensland declaring that his deepest desire is for "a white Australia"; Sir E. -Barton is in New South Wales declaring jthat nothing on earth gave him greater Satisfaction than to prevent the landing of the sis hatters. It is a deplorable thing to eso the country run by the Labour party, for this is what it amounts to ; really beins; controlled by the politically most 111tjnformed, most narrow-minded class among its population. AH educated and intelligent opinion throughout Australia is against a hard-and-fast " white Australia," and azain3t shutting out respectable British artisans like fche six hatters. But the educated and intelligent opinion is in a minority. There is a feeling of despair as ±o the "future of politics in this benighted courtry. I mentioned in • recent letter that an interesting newspaper correspondence had been conducted on " Large Families or Small." suggested by President Roosevelt's remarks on " Race Suicide." Another sustained corresDondence hap just concluded — this time on the question, " Why do Men not go to Church?" It has been more interesting than the last, aud has been contributed io by several clergymen — Anglican and Pres•jyetrian. Archbishop Carr also took a hand, not by letter, but by an address. The position he took up was that Catholic men did So to church, and that the question, therefore, had no practical interest for Catholic?. One noticeable feature in the correspondence •was the general admission that men did not go to church. Many writers blamed the parson? — that their preaching is too dreary, that they don't act in any way as spiritual guardiar"?. that if the men don't go to church they don't worry, and so on. The .parsons blamed the mm for being too wrapped uu in the world. A certain proportion of the correspondents took tho view that men rtav away because they no longer accept Christianity as true, though this section was not numerous: but a large section seemed tr hold the virw that orthodox Christianity needs broadening to suit latter ilay reouirements. Ever sn many clergymen 'devoted their Sunday evening sermon to the question. Altogether the diseureion has been very interesting. m . „ In connection with this matter, it is interesting to notice a decided tendency to break away from tradition as regards the holy observance of the Sabbath, particularly fn ihe afternoon and evening. Tho. " pleasant Sunday afternoon " is a standing 1 institution, at which the subjects ore jiot religious, but frequently politicnl and •wcial, Aid the speakers members of Parliament and public men. Even in the regular ohurohes the evening services are boing rendered morn attractive by sinking and a lively Bermon mbject. The sacred concert (silver .'ooin admission) r.eems likely to catch on — no service, only a regular concert programme. gatherings for working men are "jlgo now a Sunday afternoon feature.

The following gentlemen . ore appointed of Assessment Courts for the districts named : — Messrs John Porteous and /William Souter. for the County of Waifeouaiti and the Boroughs of Palmerston Wnd Hawksbury ; Messrs Donald Borrie and fSVilliam Nicolson. for tho County of Waitaki and Boroughs of Oamaru and HamnBen : and Messrs James Sim and John Edie •or the Tuapeka County