MR. COOK SENT FOR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 5

MR. COOK SENT FOR.

ACCEPTS INVITATION TO FORM A MINISTRY. CAN HE CARRY ON? DOUBLE DISSOLUTION PREDICTED. By Telegraph—PrcEH Association—Copyright Melbourne, Juno 23. Mr. Cook, Leader of the Federal Opposition, lias accepted an invitation to form a Ministry. "A DOUBLE DISSOLUTION." SIR JOHN QUICK'S VIEW. (R«c. Juno 23, 11.5 p.m.) Sydney, June 23. Mr. Cook's difficulty in carrying on tho business of Government is generally recognised here. Tho liowspapcrs and many of tho candidates at tho declaration of tho polls forecast an early dissolution. Sir John Quick, speaking at Bendigo, said that ho anticipated a doublo dissolution. THE NEW FEDERAL PREMIER. AN INTERESTING PERSONALITY, Mr. Joseph Cook, who was elected to tho Leadership of the Liberal party in Australia on the retirement, on account of ill-health, of Mr. Alfred Dcakin in January last, had a very close contest with Sir John Forrest, for although ho was generally regarded as being tlio stronger candidate for party leadership, ho just managed to defeat his rival by one vote. His policy, as outlined by him immediately after hi 3 election, fl.nd to which, ho said, every member of tho party subscribed, is as follows:—

"Tho policy of tho present Commonwealth tariff, as determined by tho electors, will bo maintained. "A permanent non-political body to lxs constituted having statutory authority to:— (a) To supervise and report to Parliament respecting industrial production and commercial exchange, also the working of tho tariff, its' operation and effect upon investment of capital, and tho employment of labour in Australian industries.

(b) To make recommendations from timo to timo for the adjustment and revision of the tariff in all cases of proved necessity, with due regard to the interests of all sections of the community. In tho meantime, any anomalios or inconsistencies that may bo discovered in the schedules of tlio present tariff tire to bo dealt with as soon as practicable. Mr. Cook was born at Silverdalo. a small town in Staffordshire, in 1800—53 years ago. Silverdalo is in tlio coal and iron mining centre, and as a boy Mr. Cook was sent to work in one of tho coal mines in tho district. Despite tho hard nature of his work, the collier-boy realised the advantages of education, and set himself the hard task of gaining tho knowledge ho thought so necessary. In 1835, when 25 years of age, he landed in Australia and mado Sydney his headquarters. Mr. Cook went to tho Lithgow coalfields, and followed the occupation of a miner. Even at Lithgow Mr. Cook took little or no interest in politics, but great changes wero about to takp place in tho political lifo of New South Wales, and indeed of Australia. Labour was shortly to assert itself, and was to play a part in , tlio government of tho State and country, though on a much smaller scale than to-day. The young miner had pronouncod democratic ideas, and in 1891 was pfessed to stand for tho Hartley seat in the "Democratic" interest, winning the election after a hot contest—ono of the first 32 Labour members returned to the State Parliament.

Thrco years later ho accepted the portfolio of Postmaster-General in Sir Goorgo Dibbs's Cabinet, and some political capital has since been mado by tho present labour party's supporters that Mr. Cook left the Labour movement for the sake of a portfolio. "At tho time I took office," said Mr. Cook, in regaM to that, "I was absolutely unconnected with tho official Labour movement; indeed, I was never connected with tho movement on its present basis. I did not sign tho Labour pledge, nor would I ever sign a political pledge." Mr. Cook's refusal to sign the Labour pledge drew upon him tho enmity of tho Labour organisation. AlthonghA tlio people of Lithgow would not tolerate the Labour movement at the timo, tho controlling Labour organisations ran the miners' president, Mr. Thompson, against Mr. Cook, when tho latter mado his appeal, to his constituency on taking offico as Postmaster-General under tho Reid Ministry. The miners and other unionists wero not, however, to bo enticed away from their allegiance to Mr. Cook. Tho result was that Mr. Thompson only polled 170 votes, against Mr. Cook's 1000. He held tho portfolio for four vears, and his administration was characterised by boldness of policy. He cut down the price of private telephones in Sydney from Xl 2 to <£5 per year, arid tho subscribers' list was immediately trebled, and has kept on increasing ever since. After four years' heavy administrative work in the Postal Department, Mr. Cook took tho portfolio of Minister for Agriculture, and retained it for n year until 1899. when Sir Georgo (then Mr.) Roid's Ministry was defeated, and Sir William Lvno took office. Mr. Cook again became a member of the Opposition, and mado matters lively for tho Government. Duriug his tenure of tho position as head of, tho Agricultural Department Mr. Cook abolished tho "trucking" system, by which miners wore paid for their work in goods instead of cash.

A year after tho defeat of the Reid Ministry the Federal Parliament was formed, and Mr. Cook joined Sir George Reid, tho first three years to 1903 being spent over the tariff fight. On tho displacement of Mr. Reid's party early in 1907 Mr. Cook was appointed deputyleader of the direct Opposition. Mr. Reid then went to his profession, leaving the whole work of_ leading the Opposition to Mr. Cook. This wont on for three years, when tho Labour party suddenly turned Mr. Dentin out. Mr. Fisher sncceedcd for a brief term. Meanwhile, Sir Gcorgo Reid retired altogether, and Mr. Cook was appointed loader. In 1909 tho fusion of Hie Cook-Deakin parties took place, and Mr. Deakin a train became Prime Minister, while Mr. Cook took charge of the Defence portfolio. Tho new leader is an enthusiast in tho defenco of Australia, and looks back with prido to his administration of the Defenco Department, the piloting through of the Defenco Act of 1909, anil' tho securing of Lord Kitchener's report and visit. 110 is proud, too, of tho work lie did for tho miners in securing tho passing of tho. Coal Min?s Regulation Bill, and tho provision ho secured for tho weighing of all the coal hewn by tho miners and the proper payment to them of tho money earner. Ho has always been a democrat. He has done much for the benefit of tho workers, especially for those working in tho mines, but moro than once he has been forced to say that "the workers aro apt to forget their old friends when tlie.v are being guided by tho influence of Labour. leagues and kindred organisations."

THE NEW CABINET. SCANNING THE "FROHABLES." Tho "Sydney Daily Telegraph," scanning tho probable personnel of tho new Federal Ministry, remarks that tho system of giving tho States recognition in Federal Cabinets bv including at least ono representative from each has been generally followed. If this practice should l>e adhered to, it is certain that Mr. Cook will take in Senator Milieu as the Government's working lead in the Senate. The other Senato Minister is pretty sure to bo Mr. Cleinons, one of the senators from Tasmania, a man of capacity, of considerable debating strength, and now of J2 years' continuous Parliamentary experience. The present Ministry has three representatives in tho Senate, two honorary and ono portfolioed. In the House of Representatives there would be Sir Robert. Host. Sir John Forrest:, Mr. Glynn, with probably llr. Kelly and Mr. W. 11. Irvine, if ho would accept office. It is said—with what justification is not precisely known—that Mr. W. n. Irvine is not anxious for a portfolio, but that he would join a Liberal Ministry in an 'honorary capacity. The reason suggested is tliat his practice at tho Bar is too QOMlderablfl to .warrant him making

tho sacrifice which tlio closo attention to Departmental administration would entail. Tho name of Mr. A (jar Wynne, who is ,-i business man of wido interests, has also been canvassed. Mr. liruco .Smith's is the name most generally mentioned for tho Speakership. The position was held in tho last Parliament by Mr. C. M'Donald, ono of tlio Queonslanders. If tho Labour Government should continue in ollico Mr. M'Donnld would, it is t<i bo .assumed, havo tlio support of tlio Lalxmr Party, and ho would probably bo chosen. Thore aro natural advantages in tho ruling partv having its own man in tlio chair, especially when only ono member divides the Government irom t'ho Opposition. Tlio dominant party will also havo to obtain a Chairman of Committees. VICTORIAN STATE CABINET. PORTFOLIO OF WORKS . AND HEALTH (Rco. .Tuno 23, 8.50 p.m.) Melbourne, .Tune 23. Tlio Hon. F. Hagelthorne (Minister without portfolio) has been appointed Minister for Publio Works and Minister for Health in tho Victorian State Cabinet, in succession to tho Hon. W. E. Edgar, recently defeated at tho polls. DOUBLE VOTING AT FBEMANTLE. Perth, Juno 23. It is reported that, over fourteen hundred persons voted twico at Fremantle,