Our Australia letter.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 3

Our Australia letter.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Sydney, September 28.

Tho Federal political situation is still uncortain, through tho regrettable illness of Mr. Dcakin, who, though he has returned to Melbourne from his health trip to Northern Queensland, has had to delay his appearance in the House, by tho strict advice of his medical men. As a matter of faot, Mr. Deakin's health has ben unsatisfactory for a long time, for ho is a sufferer from insomnia, and not long ago his probable resignation was freely,.hinted. Tho Queensland holiday has pulled him up considerably, hut it may bo doubted whether it has lasted long oiiough to effcct a permanent improvement. During the Prime Minister's absence, Sir William Lync has been carrying oil the task of government, necessarily hampered by the difficulties that beset the second in, command in- leading a House when the real leader:is away. Meanwhile the commercial section 'of tho community, and tlie consuming portion of it too, is waiting with what patience it can command for Parliament to deal with tho Tariff—a task which Sir William Lyno, for some reason, aiipears none too anxious to hasten. It is obvious that until the Tariff Bill is finally passed by ..the Parliament, trade must remain in a state of absoluto uncertainty, especially as, it is hoped that many of the extremely high duties included in the new fiscal proposals wil bo - material)' reduced. But instead.of tackling this work, the .Hons;' is--.occupying itself with matters of much less interest to the country—or, at any rate, to those engaged in the walks of trade and commerce, and to the paying public, who, as the persons called upon, in the final issue, to pay for the clothes and hoots and other articles which, are now higher in -price, would like to know as soon as .possible where they stand. IN NEW. SOUTH WALES. In New £3outh jWales, on tho other hand,. politics are just now more interesting than they have been for some time. The new Parliament, fresh'from the elections, is to meet on October 2, and party fights will acquire a new significance because of^ tho presence of a" stronger Left Wing, the Independents, Liberal in principles, but entirely unpledged to the Government—in fact, comprising for the most part members whoso presence in tho new House is due to the fact that they liavo defeated ' Government candidates. The most remarkable feature of the elections, however, is .that tho Labour Party, i.ow. oil the Opposition! benches, has gained materially, and will bo a much stronger force in tho new Parliament than in the last, wliilo tho Government, which went to tho polls with .'an attractive - programme, and with ,al , the prestige which < somehow or other, in the minds of tho unthinking, attaches itself to a Government when the seasons have been bountiful, and thero is plenty of money in tho country, hqs barely held its own. Mr. Carruthers claims that, the majority, of tho Independents will vote with- his Government-, and perhaps tlioy will, but the support of a third party, consisting of free lances, can never bo relied upon to any extent, and, indeed, as the curious system of party _ government. goes nowadays, a left wing is a source of weakness, not of strength. Men who were opposed; by . Mr. Carruthers at the ballotboxes, and won their seats simply becauso. the 'electors ignored lii's strong appeal that they should vote for other men, are not likely to go out of their way to help him along in a fight. This much may be said without in the least accusing the Independents of any departure from Liberal principles. The .'programme to whjch Mr. Carruthers is pledged includes remission of ! taxation in various directions. The income tax upon personal earnings is .to bo entirely abolished; stamp duties are.to be wiped out; and there are certain other proposals which will bring relief to the man who has to nut his hand into his pocket with such unfailing regularity to pay for the privilege of being, governed. RECONSTRUCTION.The first duty of the Premier of New South Wales, after the elections, was to reconstruct his Cabinet, since two members of it, Mr. James Ashton, Ministor of Lands, and Mr. W. T. Dick,. Honorary Ministor, -lid not seek re-election. To replace the >:>, he has taken into the Ministry Mr. W. T. Wood, Chairman of Committees,", and Mr. C. W, Oakes, a weliknown business man at Paddington, who has not previously held Cabinet rank. Undoubtedly in the loss of Mr.' Ashton tho Minister suffers materially, as ho was a strong adterially, as he was a strong ad ministrator, and a man of rolnut sense and practical views, who:e presence at the head of the Lan IS Department did a great deal to rehabilitate it in the eyes of the publb after the , extraordinary revelations of the Crick regime. Now Mr. Moore, Minister of Mines, takes up the Lands portfolio, a change wl.ic'h has caused some surprise,. sinco Mr. Moore has done so well in tlie administration of the Minos Department that it might be expected he wouid be kept there. His work, particularly in putting the Mining Bill through Parliament, has been excel-' lent. However, he will probably display just, as ready a grasp of the vexed problems attending land settlement in this country. In any case, the Lands Department isshor'ly to ho placed under the control of » Commission, as recommended by Mr. Ji stice Owen, and i possibly ",lr. Moore will then take charge of tin newly-organised Department' of Agriculture, which is now to be put upon a sound footing by the Premier himself,' who has given up the portfolio of Treasurer with that object. 'This is an unprecedented step, and indicates, that the Government has r.solved to give closer attention to th-s duty of assisting tho farmer. Mr. T. Waddell, with the abolition of tlu office of Chief Secretary, succeeds M Carruthers in'the Treasury, 'and.Mr. Mooro will bo followed in tho Mines Department by Mr. Wood, who, as a young man of energy and levelheadedness, will no doubt soon got into touch with tho details of a Department for whose administration so far as the general public knows, ho has not up to the. present shown anv special qualifications. Mr. Wood has once before held Cabinet rank, ay

Minister of Justico in tlio Lyne Government from September, '1899, to April, 1901. The other new Minister, Mr. Oakes, now enters a Cabinet for tlio first time. He has been a strong party man ever since he became a member of Parliament in 1901, and it is hinted tlmt lie will shortly get the Education portfolio, now held by Mr. J. A. Hoguo, who, though personally one of the most pleasant of men, is not tlio • moit brilliant of .Ministers. , [Gable messages have ' since advised us of tlio resignation of .Mr. Carruthers, an:! the formation of a now Ministry hy Mr. AYadc, the late Attorney-Gen-eral.]