THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THUSDAY, MAY 7, 1912. THE QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13410, 7 May 1912, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THUSDAY, MAY 7, 1912. THE QUEENSLAND ELECTIONS.

"Peace in the street and plenty in the homo," the shibboleth of the Queensland Ministerialists, evidently proved a very effective battle cry. The result of the elections is not probably capable of the interpretation that Australian public opinion is on the turn and that Labour in politics has had its day. But the Queensland Labour Party had high hopes, if not of capturing the Government, at least of securing so powerful a force in Opposition that, with the aid of a few Independents,l they could practically control the situation. These hopes have received a crushing defeat, winch following so soon after the rout of Labour in South Australia, may well give food for serious reflection to the Labour parties of the Commonwealth and Now South Wales, who will shortly have again to test their strength at the polls. In each case, however, the elections were preceded by serious industrial tumult, and in each case the cause of strife failed to warrant the extreme action adopted by the unions. The South -"Australian Labour Government succumbed to a general desire for greater industrial security by means of a return to the Liberal regime. On a the other hand Queensland, although thej home of militant unionism in Australia, has never yet been under Labour government. The Labour Party, however, has been a steady growing force in State politics. A few years ago its strength occasioned a fusion of the two other sections in Parliament, and in the last Parliament the fusion represented forty-one votes, the Labourites twentyseven, and there were five Independents, who were usually associated with the Ministerialists. At the time of writing there may still be one or two changes, but the parties will appear in the House when it next meets with ver3 r little alteration. The Ministerialists appear to have gained two seats from Labour, who have a slightly diminished following, while there are a few Independents. The elections were fought wholly on the industrial issue, and in the circumstances Labour, in failing to secure any advance on its former numbers, has suffered a serious set-back. The elections were held earlier than usual, and the opinion that the Premier, Mr Denham, showed considerable astuteness in hurrying them on -while the people were still smarting from the effects of the recent strike, has been justified by 'the result. The strike, in fact, with its attendant feature of syndicalism, on the pretext which appealed in no great measure *to popular sympathy, furnished an admirable .political weapon for the Government, which made tho most effective ti&o of it. To what extent the chilling •reception Labotii: has met at the hands of 'tho electors j n South Australia and Queensland will be reflected elsewhere in the Com-

monwealth remains to bo soon, but tho keen anxiety displayed by Federal and State Labour Ministers to disassociate their parties and themselves from the tactics recently pursued in South Australia and Queensland, indicates that the outlook is causing them some anxiety.