The Dominion. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1920. COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1920. COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

All thoughtful people on this side of the Tasman -Sea will be well pleased at the result of the Cqjnmomvealth elections. The returns are still incomplete, but there is no reason''.to suppose that the'proportions of party strength at present disclosed will be materially altered. It is all but certain that the Nation-, •alists will find themselves in power with a majority and able to count in addition upon tho support of a number of Farmers' Party candidates in any crucial issue with the Caucus Labour Party. The people of Australia have voted definitely <or safe progress and against the extremists who constitute a large proportion of Mr. Ryan's following. The_ popul'ar decision is of t;ood promise as it bears upon in. ternal affairs in the Commonwealth —on the prospect of lim'ithig industrial strite and building up prosperity. It is highly important also in repard to the- external responsibilities of the Commonwealth, and not least in regard to interImperial relations. This is a mattor of close concern to New Zealand. With the attitude of tho United States defined for the moment ai least by politicians who are reluctant to see their country fairly doiug its part in building up an international organisation for the preservation of peace, it is , vital to the British Dominions, particularly to those which look out on the Pacific, that they should bo linked to gether in an adequate schemo of naval defence. Prospects in this direction are vastly better than if tho Caucus Party had been returned to power in the Commonwealth. Somo members of the party are blatantly disloyal; and as a group it is committed to the typo of "internationalism" which seems to amount mainly to an assumption by those who iprofess it that their own country is always in the wrong. The Nationalist Party, fully sup. ported in this respect by the Farmers' Party, stands for a broad and enlightened conception of national and Imperial patriotism. With.such a Government in omeo in the Commonwealth it ought to be » comparatively simple matter to arrange for harmonious co-operation :by Australia and New Zealand in a, scheme of Imperial naval defence. Th.3 victory , of the' Nationalists undoubtedly affords _ a guamnten of Imperial solidarity which oould have been ill-spared.

The event at the same time raises man} , questions of great interest as they bear upon the internal outlook in the Commonwealth. The Australian electors have voted for safety and security, but certainly not with merely negative results. On tho contrary there is a- plain promise in the position reached of just such a broadening and quickening of Parliamentary activity as is needed in every democratic country if it is to deal effectively with the problems of after-war reconstruction. In Australia- as in'this country a- spirit rather of bold enterprise than of timorous caution is called for in order that these problems may be. hopefully attacked. As Leader of the Nationalist forces, Mr. Hughks has every possible incentive to act resolutely in the interests'of progress and national welfa.ro. It counts for a great deal in. this connection that hjs following consists nf elements which but for the binding force, of such a policy lnighi show themselves to be • incongruous •ind incapable of holding together. As a political leader Mr.. Hi'gjier ■s set the task of holding together in a common camp Labour and Liberal representatives who are at. issue amongst themselves on many minor gvdunds of difference. Hib tendency is to bo autocratic: and domineering, but unless appearances are very deceptive he will receive no slavish support during the ensuing Parliamentary term. As far as can be judged ho is .under an absohr.c necessity of intelligently considering the aims and aspirations of I'aeh section of his composite following, and so obtaining the groundwork oi a strong national policy. With such a following, he is plainly cdled upon for a resolute load, not only in progressive enterprise, but. in removing- the reproach unde which the Federal Government now labours on the score of wasteful and extravagant administration. Thu babis for united action exists, l/o<\ever, and it was 'veil stated on the eve of the election ,by Sir Joseph Cook, Commonwealth Minister for the Navy. In a manifesto in which h° contrasted the aims of the Nationalist and Caucus parties, he s.iid in part: —

We are for industrial development, which will mean also industrial ponce— for the economic trinity—content n-.ent, co-operation, and produclionr dread;! , wealth can be secured by unity iiinl with co-operative production prncr-ding without friction and without doubt as lo tlio fairness of the ultimate division of the wealth produced. With .more wealth there will be more to divuV. Willi more unity there will hi-, a "belter iiuil more geiwrous. division. . • . V,'o are against the predatory profiteer. IVc are also against thn predatory s'.prwn'ilitics of tho industrial world in whatever seclion they live and move and Iwvo lliuir being, whether they bi> in Ihi; Oipilnli.si or Labour cniup. We aro for iiiitional solidarity. They aro for class .«>!i<lui'ity. Wo want to foster a vommnn v. ill for the commonweal. We arc exit to develop 0 passion for peacp, external and interna!, among all men of good will. In this higher sense tho attitude of mind iind tho spirit of the people tower high nljovu mechanical programmes n.iul parly alignments. And the name of a party whs never more pspressivo of it.i ai:ns. Nationalists are for a united and efficient nation and for a united and ollickut Kmoife.

Honestly attempting to live up lo Umsp ideals, the Nationalist Party

will ba a power for good, and will set its mark upon the history of Australia and that of the Empire