THE BOOK OF SIR GEORGE REID

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3072, 7 May 1917, Page 6

THE BOOK OF SIR GEORGE REID

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES

HIS " YES-NO " ATTITUDE

Sir George Reid's book of reminiscences will be published in Australia this month. It will comprise four hundred pages. It is largely devoted to autobiographical sketches and tho career of the Stato and Federal Parliaments, and his later years in England. The personal references to his contemporaries are generally appreciative, notably the following:—

Sir Henry Parkes—Australia's greatest politician.

' Sir Edmund Barton—Brilliant intellectually and federally; infinitely creditable to him {hat he offered Sir Samuel Griffith the Chief Justiceship. Mr. C. C. Kingston—The possession of a rugged manliness and good fellow-" ship. Sir William Lyne—Amiable in private and rude in public. Mr. Joseph Cook —A capable, devoted colleague. Sir George Turner—A proved financier. Mr. J. 0. Watson—No Labour leader before or since could hold a candle to him. Mr. J. T. M'Gowen—One of the straightest men I have ever met. Mr. W. M. Hughes—A man of volcanic energy and ability, and foremost among Labourites. , Mr. Andrew' Fisher—Reliable and straightforward. Sir George lleid gives a narrative of the Federal campaign of the late "nineties." He defends his "Yes-No" attitude as judicial, and claims that at the Premiers' Conference in Melbourne in 1899 he secured the two principal concessions demanded by New South Wales, viz., the Federal capital site, aud the substitution of a bare majority for a two-thirds majority in the joint sittings of Parliament; He states ho was enable to resist Sir George Turner's insistence that the capital should be 100 miles outside Sydney. The most powerful platform opponents of the Bill in New South Wales, he states, were Sir Normand M'Laurin, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Holman, and Sir William Lyne. Ho claims the authorship of the term "White Australia." Details are given /of the negotiations with Mr. Deakin preceding the formation of _ the Reid-M'Lean Government. A fortnight after the Watson Ministry was formed, Mr. Sydney Smith intimated to Mr. Reid'that Mr. Deakin was willing to confer with him, and a consultation followed. It was agreed to endeavour to effect a coalition on the basis of a fiscal truce. Mr. Deakin subsequently told him his health prevented his joining the Ministry, but he would support it. Nevertheless, Mr. Deakin did not convince his friends regarding his health, because his party was opposed to a coalition, except under Mr. Deakin's leadership. Later disclosures brought out the fact that the whole protectionist party was prepared to unite with Labour. Sir George Reid blames Mr. Deakin for bringing about the downfall of the Reid-M'Lean Ministry without prior notification of his intention to the Dcakinite members of the Ministry. He eulogises Sir George Turner's chivalry when ho (Sir George Reid) was defeated. He realised lie could never join with Mr. Deakin, therefore ho resigned the leadership of the Opposition in favour of Mr.- Joseph Cook, who was under no such disability. He complains that the first Federal' Ministry promised to arrange for tho control of tho railways, but nothing has been done to this day.

The legislation regarding the signing of newspaper articles is criticised, and Sir George Reid says it proves the superseusitiveucss to criticism of even tne roughest democrat. ' Sir George Reid believes the reasons for the delay in filling the Federal judiciary posts and the High Commissionership were not entirely of a public character. Mahy hidden sprint's prevented the passing of an Act appointing the High Commissioner, and many personal considerations were not disclosed. He (Sir George Reid) kept ciear of what he describes as "tho intrigues." Mr. Joseph Cook e first sounded him, and then the. Prime Minister (Mr. Deakin) offered him the appointment.

Mi-, lusher, Senator Pearce, and/ the late iVir. Batclielor are saddled with the responsibility lor Australia House, bir George Reid's proposal was to purciiase the frontage, which would have involved a deficiency of only £5000 a year. Ministers and members visited the site, and decided to purchase the wliolc block. Fears of the war and the abstention of live States from occupying the building »would produce a bad financial result for a long time. During his visit to Australia, Sir George Reid states, he received Mr. Glynn's verbal assurance that there was no difference 'of. opinion in the Cabinet regarding his reappointment as High Commissioner. The only question was whether the term should bo for three years or live years. Unfortunately, he did not receive a written reply to his communication-on the subject.

After a year's experienco of the House of Commons, Sir George Roid thinks there is no difference in the 1 level of natural ability of Parliamentarians in Great Britain and the Dominions. A little more ardour would benefit Great Britain, and a little less ardour would dp Australia, a j*>r!d of good.

Referring to the present Australian situation, Sir George Reid says: "The first great-strain was fatal to the Labour caucus and Labour League domination. The Fusion represents either purest patriotism or desperate need, or a mixture of both. If the Fusion survives it will prove of good service, and Parliament will be better aTjle to safeguard the interests of tlie whole eommunitv."