RETURN OF MR ANDREW FISHER.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17107, 31 March 1921, Page 5

RETURN OF MR ANDREW FISHER.

UNKNOWN POLITICAL QUANTITY.

(from own oobresjpojtdent.)

SYDNEY, March 22,

' There \vas*a quaint scene last week on the Melbourne railway station on the arrival of the Adelaide express. Mr Andrew Fisher, a former Prime Minister, and lately High v Commissioner, arrived from London, and arrayed on the platform to meet him were the foremost representatives ov the rivtil political parties. Fully half the Cabinet Ministers (Nationalist) wore there; wliilo Mr Frank Tudor, leader of the Labour Opposition, with several of his henchmen, was also well in the foreground., Mr Fisher was no sooner off the train than he was greeted'with enthusiasm, and as a colleague, by both parties. The Ministers tlemonsoratively shook hands with him; Mr Tudor called for three cheers for him. The Ministers, on behalf of the country, expressed appreciation of his London services; Mr Tudor expressed gratification at tho return of "a great Labour statesman." A Labour Government was in power when early in the war Mr Fisher nanded over the reins to Mr Hughes and went to London as High Commissioner. The leading Ministers then are still in power, but as Nationalists, while Labour is in Opposition. The question therefore was: Where is Mr Fisher going, with; his former colleagues, or with Labour? 1 ,-*■

There is very little doubt that Mr Fisher is going with Labour, and that he intends to re-enter politics in this country. Although he was High Commissioner to the Nationalist Government, it i-i well known that he fought consistently with Mr Hughes, and, in the end, was practically ignored by that autocratic little statesman. As a political opponent, howevor, he is not to ,'be feared. He became a Labour leader by virtue of his Scotch caution and his purely negative qualities. He is in no sense brilliant—never wa9 —and has no striking personality. In the last five years- he has become an old man, and has lost much of his former vigour. Labour organisations everywhere are gleefully hailing his return to Federal politics, but thev are likely to be disappointed with the help he can give them against the apparently invincible Mr Hughes.

"Don't try your stale old tricks on ma, Cough up the.dinkum goods! That Label's just plain piracy Without the name of Woods. No, sir, that "just-as-good" won't do, 'Tis imposition pure! I want no sauoe from staoh as you, Gimme Woods' Great Peppermint Corel" 1