A GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 4

A GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN.

The general elections which have just concluded in Holland have resulted in the;overthrow of the Coalition Ministry. The popular Chamber of the Netherlands Parliament is elected for four years by all male citizens of 25 years of age or over who pay a direct tax to the State, or are householders, or own boats of not less than four tons, or receive a minimum wage or salary of about £23, or give other evidence of their ability to support themselves and their families. The Government and this Chamber alone possess the initiative in legislation, the Upper House having the right of approval or rejection of measures, but not of amendment. The previous election, which was held in 190 D, resulted in a decisive victory for the Clerical Coalition, which secured CO out of the 100 seats, and the present election indicates that there has been a great change of feeling in tho country. The principal political questions during the past year have been tariff reform and coast defence. The former met with strong popular opposition, and the Government was compelled to withdraw a number of the proposed duties. The Defence Bill also appears to be unpopular, feir the cablegram which we publish in another column states that it is expected that the new Radical majority will revise the proposals regarding the fortification of the Scheldt. Referring to recent political developments in Holland, a writer in Everyman states that Dutch politics almost entirely revolve around religious disputes, and that "strange things are happening to-day which would have caused the indignation of old Dutch Protestants, and which would stagger the Nonconformists of Great Britain. Extreme Calvinists, under the leadership of Dn. Kuyper, have joined hands with the Ultramontanes, under tho leadership of Mon.signor Schaepman, to drive back tho Liberals." It is this ProtestantCatholic clerical combination which has now been defeated. To the world at large the main interest in the political change will probably be the attitude of the new Government towards Germany, which already exercises a very great commercial influence over Holland, and in the opinion of many competent observers may one day endeavour to gain complete control over the country. The German Government 'is at present bringing pressure tc bear on Holland to consent to the establishment by the Vulcan Company, controlled by' a .great German firm of shipowners, of a private harbour and works on the banks of the new waterway which gives access to Rotterdam from the North Sea, and.it is probable that unless other Powers intervene, the proposal will soon become an accomplished fact.