LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 3

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA.

“GOVERNMENT BY CAUCUS.” < BAD FORM OF DICTATORSHIP. “Democracy in Australia has become to all intents and purposes a farce,” said Mr. W. A. Boucher, who returned by the Marania to Auckland this week after a business visit to the Commonwealth.. “With Labour Governments, in power, the people have practically no say in the affairs of the country aftei’ the elections; it is purely and simply government by caucus,. a particularly bad form, of dictatorship.” • The Labour Party in Australia had its saner elements, Mr. Boucher said, but if they attempted to curb Labour's socialistic activities they were promptly “disciplined.” The word “discipline” was freely used, and there was e'en talk in some sections of “disciplining" the Federal Prime Minister, Sir. J, H. Scullin, on his return from the Imperial Conference.

Trades unionism was practically doomed in Australia. The workers were beginning to realise that for years they had been carrying on their backs paid agitators who had done them far more harm than good. The workers had to realise that they had now to face altered conditions in the same manner as the primary producers. Australia was feeling the results of its short-sighted policy as far as tariff walls were concerned and it was to be hoped that New Zealand would never give protection to uneconomic and unsound industries as had been done in the Commonwealth. An illustration of the failure of high tariffs was provided in the ease of -one firm which had' a protection of 70 per cent, on its'product and -which was now in liquidation.