POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XL, Issue 5594, 28 November 1908, Page 2

POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA.

ITo those who crave for a political career Australia offers far more attractions than New Zaland. Here we have only one Parliament, and practically orily one party, whioh has obstinately, stuck to official place, power, and perqfiisites for nearly two decades. And we have nearly a million of population. Australia has only four millions, but she is blessed with no less than seven Parliaments, seven Ministries and seven Governors. Yet there are people who say that our Dominion is over-governed, and never think of pointing scornfully at Australia. Contemplate the chances of becoming a Cabinet Minister an Australian enjoys compared with the meagre hope than can be cherished by the average New Zealander. In theTTammonwealth, even if politics were as steady as in New Zealand, r the odds on the average man attaining cabinet rank would be about one in 70,000^

wliile in New Zealand it is only aitout one in 125,000. Thc-n, again, consider how politics fluctuate on the other side of the Tasman Sea. Having boon far too little conciliated Labour in Australia has been constrained to form a party of its own, not merely in tie Federal Parliament, but in all the Siate Legislatures. Tlims the tripartite system, pervades all <Jepaitments of -political activity over in Australia, and the result is a partial paralysis of useful legislation, and periodical scrambles for office. No one party can maintain power long in face of the opposition of the other two. For example, since the inauguration of the Commonwealth in 1901, a period of eijrht years, ihe Con^ervatives under Mr (ieo. Roid have Lad two or three tries at governing, the Literals under iMr Deakin two or three, and now the Labour party under Mr Fisher is trying its hand for the second time. But the new Commonwealth Ministry will only, like its predecessors, remain in office on sufferance until a fresh -web ,of intrigue forms a majority against it. At the present time party politics in Australia are not edifying to the patriotic Australasian. It is a matter for con- , gratulation that the late elections hero have proved that Labour has no grievances against the Labour •v>» i> i\ sufficiently serious to induce it to form an independent party oi its own.