LEARNING ITS LESSON.

Western Star, 7 February 1922, Page 4

LEARNING ITS LESSON.

L.;i3OUR IN Ac jiTcALIA. FAILURE OF STATE ENTERPRISE. Australian problems as affected by Labour were referred to recently by Mr A. St. Leger, who formerly represented! one of the Queensland constituencies ,in fne Federal Parliament.

"" As regards labctir difficulties, Mr St. Loner said those were now more political than industrial. The workers were coming to realise that their had been used for-, political plirlbQ,ses, and were no longer willing to be':the tools of tyrants and 1 extremists wh6>wero these organisations for their own ends. No surer sign of the decline of faith in the Labour Party could be given than in its setback in the recent municipal and local body elections in Queensland and New South Wales, Labour's stronghold*.

" The method of , the present Labour in these, two States are menacing the financial stability of the whole of the Commonwealth," said Mr St. Leger. "The enormous revenue and loan expenditure, • and high rate of taxations, if continued- on the present scale, will break down'not only the State Treasuries, but will also threaten the Federal Trea ■tir; . , Queensland! and New South Wales have wildly and recklessly borrowed huge sums v>

start various State trading enterprises. The workers supported this policy at first, for it opened up many new avenues of employment. They

now so-, for themselves that practically all of these enterprises are dueniec. to hnpelc's failure, , and the State are left with enormous liabilities which can only be met by high taxation, bringing about increased cost cf living and the* tying up 01 privaie finances ' that? means the mimed hue crippling of industry and trade, and inevitable unemployment. The worker is thus coming to realise that this reckless State expenditure, although iseemiiig to benefit him at 'first, it inevitably followed by an increased' taxation, the brunt of which lie. himself is finally called upon to bear."

With regard,-to Australia's attitude toward immigration, Mr St. Leger raid the negative attitude of Labour, \ergiutr on adtual hostility, had undoubtedly been a very restraining influence en a -vigorous policy, inasmuch a« it had been able to restrict the State giants in favour of itnrni-i-rat-h-ii. "Tiic Federal Government was new making very liberal - provision for advertising Australia in Great Britain and English-speaking countries, and when - Europe settled ciown there would undoubtedly be a increasing stieani cf wh:te £uior.-.;:i immigration.' '•We realise that the British ele-

ment r.m-t aivvays be overwhelmingly predominant," said Mr St. Leger. •'but a «jinod chu.i of-European immi-

gration mHst also be welcomed. Austral:';! is making provision for settling immigrjnts on the laud by puslrfng rorward great irrigation schemes which will enable large tracts of country to be opened up for farming purposes. Dams audi reservoirs are beiiij: built. Mid water .gradually extended to fanning and fruitgrowing distiicts, which will then.-be opened ud for settlement. .