AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 28

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

LORD DUDLEY'S IMPRESSIONS. "TOO MANY POLITICIANS." LONDON, January 9. In a paper read before the Royal Colonial Institute Lord Dudley gave some impressions of Australia. He disapproved of the hasty selection of the Faderal capital, and considered that the existing 14 Legislative Chambers constituted an overgenerous allowance for 4£ millions of people. He strongly advocated fresh endeavours in the immigration field. January 10. In a paper before the Royal Colonial Institute on some impressions of Australia, Lord Dudley declared that Federation had enormously facilitated the adoption of improved defence, and had also boon of the greatest value in matters relating to external affairs. As Australia's importance increased the Imperial Government would find it necessary and advantageous to consult Australia very closely on some subjects. It would have been wiser to wait developments before transplanting the Federal capital in the middle of the bush, away from the broadening influences that would be derived through contact with various interests in the centres of population. Australia had too many professional politicians and too many politicians. Altogether there were 14 Houses of Parliament, which was an overgrown allowance. He denied suggesting that Australian politicians were

guilty of corruption. On the contrary, the purity of the public service was one of Australia's proudest boasts. He advocated immigration, a white Australia, and an Australian navy.

January 10. Mr M'Oall (Agent-general for Tasmania) said he disagreed with Lord Dudley's approval of the Australian navy, which was an enormous load on the Australians. He said it would be far better to contribute half of what it cost to the Imperial navy .

Lord Dudley, in replying, admitted that many people in Australia thought like Mr M'Call, but Australia coud not make an adequate contribution in any other way. The people were rightly opposing taxation without representation. The Daily News says: "Lord Dudley's tribute to the purity of Australia's public service is a great thing to say, but we believe it. Canadian politics are notoriously corrupt, and this charge applies equally to Liberals and Tories. But Australia has kept her hands clean. We agree that Australia is over-supplied ■with Parliaments."