The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1925. AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1925. AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

Although the final results of the Australian elections are not to hand at the time of writing, enough is known to make it clear that Mr. Bruce will have an increased majority in the House of Representatives and a prospect of securing a majority in the Senate. Mr. Charlton, the leader of the Opposition, anticipates that the Government will have a majority in both Houses, and he is not likely to put Mr. Brucc's chances unduly high. This is a satisfactory result of a bold step. It is quite true that Mr. Bruce has been accused of hastening the election in order to secure an advantage from the recent upheaval, and it is probable that it helped his cause, but. at the same time it was staking a great deal on the result of the election. At the same time matters had come to a crisis when such action was inevitable. The Labour Parly in Australia is very different to-day to what it was in the past. It has been a party of progress, corresponding in some respects to the Liberal Party at Home, although in other ways if was very different. To-day it has lost whatever claims to statesmanship it possessed. It is not consciously communist, if we may judge by the fact that Communists were refused a hearing at the last conference. It is, however, possessed by the same spirit of recklessness, and the same readiness to ruin others to obtain its immediate purpose. This is even more evident on the economic side than on the political, and it is seldom that a day passes without our hearing of a strike of some kind. As labour enjoys belter conditions in Australia than in most countries, it is evident that a small effort at conciliation would have settled the matter. For a lime the Labour Party is discredited in the political world, although as Labour Governments are in power in most of the States, their Influence will be widely felt. If they are to do any good for themselves or for their country they must alter the method of leaving it to a caucus to dictate to the members the line they arc to take. The method turns any pretence of discussion into a farce, and must drive every man of character out of the party. It leads to extreme views, for when a number of men are met together who arc substantially in agreement, without the presence of anyone to put forward the other side, it always happens that the man of the most pronounced views takes the lead, and it is his instructions which are given to the delegate who sits in Parliament to do as he is told.

The shipping strike will be felt in Australia for some lime. All hope of any reductions in freights has gone for the present, even if no increase takes place. A shake has been given to Australian credit which does not immediately manifest itself, but will be shown later. The country, however, is so rich that these drawbacks will not last long, and it is to be feared that as soon as they pass away the usual apathy of the electors will return. The truth is that the ideas which trouble Australia are not confined to the Labour Party. There is a general feeling that those in the country have got hold of a good thing ard do not want too many to share it with them. One of the results is the resolve to maintain a white Australia. Such a resolve would meet with general approval and sympathy if anything were done to carry it out. At present the action is limited to putting difficulty in the way of anybody coming. It may be quite right to object to those who are euphemistically called misfits, but on the other hand the standard may be set so high that no one can be found.good enough to pass the test. It is not realised that the handful of people now in the country cannot expect that they will be left indefinitely in possession of a continent. The world is too full to permit it. It is not even an advantage to those in possession. It makes life so easy that all the. motives which commonly weigh with mankind become of no avail. To work for a half or a third of the time provides a living and therefore a strike is entered upon for grievances thai might he rectified with a word. The wealth of the country is to a large extent dissipated, and those who enjoy the advantages do not make the most of them, while they debar others from participating. The unduly swollen capital cities strike everyone, and the policy of protection tends to increase them, The numbers congregated in these cities give them a political strength thai prevents the development of the country. No attempt is made to open any further ports, for they would injure the trade of the existing city, and producers

have to pay freights on a much longer haul than would be necessary if other ports were opened. An effort has recently been made to create a new State in the north of New South Wales; but a Commission appointed to enquire into the matter have reported that it is not feasible financially. It is not possible for an outsider to challenge the report, but he may at least regret it. Sydney and Melbourne are fine cities, but they are not Australia in spite of the prevalent opinion to that effect. It Is mistaken ideas of this kind which have been the strength of the Labour Party, for they are held by large numbers who we may be sure, voted against the party at the recent election. A different outlook is necessary, and the first step is to realise that 50,000,000 of people are required in order to hold the country with safety, while the 0,000,000 who are there and who cherish the hope of keeping it for themselves are like the man of one talent who wrapped it up in a napkin. It will be remembered that he had it taken from him.