COST OF GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 7

COST OF GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA.

« ; S2 PER .CENT. INCREASE UNDER / LABOUR. An immense audience assembled in the Town Hall, Adelaide, on March 7, when Messrs. Cook (leader of the_ Federal Liberal part};) and Mr. Deakin (ex-leader) addressed members of the Liberal Union. The meeting was the initial ono of the Federal election campaign. Senator Var- : don presided. Tho visitors were accorded a hearty reception.

Mr. Cook, who was' the first speaker, said the Labour party said they were going to bring peace to the country, but 250 strikes had occurred during the last tlircs years. That was the peace they brought. Even the Labour' Government in New South Wales was asking for the labourers to work at tho gas works. In the three States where Labour reigned, tho cost of government had increased by 52 per cent., while in the States with Liberal administration the cost of government had increased by only 12.} per cent. Tho fact they had to face was that this year tho Commonwealth Labour Government would not pay their way; and if they went on spending as they had done, millions would soon have to bo raised to square accounts. The Labour _ Governments were tho greatest spendthrifts Australia had ever seen. He criticised the action of the Government in relation to the abolition of the postal vote.' The' democracy was being hamstrung by the Labour party, who had better be satisfied with South Australia's experience in connection with the threatened Yelta mine loss and Westra* lia's experience of the State steamer and hotel. Mr. Cook referred to tho heavy exnenditure on the navy and the establishment of saddlery and clothing factories before the artillery factory, as a serious mistake. Mr. Deukin followed, dealing principally 'with: the proposed amendments to the constitution.