MR. FISHER AND THE CAUCUS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 5

MR. FISHER AND THE CAUCUS.

PARLIAMENT WITHIN A PARLIAMENT. The Labour party has an assured majority in both Houses, of the Federal Parliament—23 members in a Senate of 36, and 42 in a House of 75 members. The . Governor-General's speech ,was secretly revised by a caucus of the whole party, held in Melbourne last week. This was one of' the stipulations made by the party- when the Ministry was selected.

Practically the Bills prepared by the Government will have been completely considered by the party sitting in secret before they will reach the House. The debates in Parliament will be mere formalities, so far as the nominal Ministerial followers are concerned. The Labour men will already have expressed their views, without listening to any arguments which tho Opposition may submit, and they will be prepared to go to a vote to formally give effect to the caucus's decrees without bothering to hear the debates.

The prediction that there will, under the Labour party's regime, bo two Parliaments—one to settle the character of the measures and one to '.enable the members who have already approved to give their vote so as to enable them to 1>? carried into legislative effect—will consequently be realised. One advantage which the caucus discussions hove for the Ministry over the discussions in Parliament is that whatever attitude the caucus may assume on a particular Bill—whether it unceremoniously rejects it or orders it to be vitally amonded—the position of the Government is not affected.' Ministers sitting in the secret room of the caucus do not recognise that they exist as an independent Administration. They are simply a caucus committee, of which Mr. Fisher is chairman, and whatever alterations Iho caucus ibay make will be cheerfully accepted. _ ' Discussing tho attitude of the Opposition, the Sydney "Telegraph"- said:— Though some members of the Opposition think that they should adopt an aggressive attitude towards the new Government when it meets the ITousc with its more or less emasculated policy, the opinion of other members of the party is that no factious hostility whatever should be shown. Indeed, tho policy of tho party will most likely be to throw no obstacles whatever in the way of tho Government speedily ' .submitting its caucus-revised measure. Tho Bills will, of course,' bo criticised, but the obstructive tactics which the Labour party pursued when it .was iu opposition will not. be initiated.