AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 12

AUSTRALIA

POLITICS AND LABOUR

THE FEDERAL CAPITAL

MR. REARDON'S IMPRESSIONS

'During the time I was over there, 1 had the opportunity of seeing the Commonwealth Parliament opened at Canberra under the control of the new Labour Government; and I found that the Federal members of Parliament were strikingly unanimous in cursing federation. They all have their State grievances. And the residents of Canberra—Civil servants, and everybody else—were unanimous in cursing what they called the "Bush Capital," or the "Capital in the Wilderness," stated Mr. M. J. Eeardon, in the course of a conversation with a "Post" reporter. Mr. M. J. Eeardon returned to Wellington by the Makura to-day, after a trip to Australia. "To the visitor," he said, "the capital, 200 miles from anybig centre of population, aopears to be a very fine attempt at making a garden city in the wilderness. But I was assured that my enthusiasm for its beauty only arose from the fact that I did not have to live there; and that after a short residence in the capital all such enthusiasm would evaporate. In my opinion, however, that is all nonsense. There are beautiful residences there, and all that. The members ot both Houses-of the Federal Parliament do not seem to have cast off yet by any means the idea of State rights. The members from each State will submit plenty of data to show how much their respective States have suffered because of federation. Nevertheless, it is clear that the trend of events is in the direction of giving wider scope ito the lederal Parliament rather than I reverting to the State interests

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

«ffi' The t Lal:>oUr Govemment goes into omce at a very serious time in the financial history of Australia. There are enormous loans—totalling, I think imwards of £100,000,000—falling due m London this year, and in the next few' years; and these have to be financed on a very bad market. The present Federal Treasurer (Mr. Theodore) stated to me that the only comfort he gets out of the position is that everyone acknowledges that his task is a verr difficult one He has just been obliged to float a local loan of £10.000,000 which will return investors £5 14s 4d per cent.—a very high rate for Government securities.

"A STRONG TEAM."

The impression one gathers of the : new Ministry is that it is a strong team,. : several of its members having had considerable State experience- in MW jtenal ofoces. Mr. Scullia," the Prime.iimister, gives the impression of beinjr | not very robust in health; and it may be that he will not be able to stand the i strain of office. Mr. Theodore, on the other hand, and Mr. Lyons (formerly Prime Minister of Tasmania) look like men who are well able to Jake whatever iaiocks may come their way The Od position does not seem to be well found in regard to debating-power, any more than m numbers.

MR. HUGHES'S CHANCE.

- From the brief debates on the Ad-dress-m-Reply, one gathered that the extreme members of the Labour Party in the Lower House would like to take issue ou the subject of military training; and, listening to the debate in the Senate, one felt that if the opjportmuty presented itself, the Nationalist majority in that chamber would welcome it as an issue. -One interjection, thrown across the floor of the Lower House by a Labour member, was Can you get your crowd in the Senate to box on on this issue?" If it does bring the two Houses into conflict it appeared clear to me that W 'm Hughes will jump into the leadership of the Opposition at one bound. Little and insignificent though he is in appearance—the least soldier-like figure in the whole Federal Parliament—lie has a wonderful influence among the returned soldiers. .

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Although the Labour Party was returned to power in defence of the Arbitration Act, it is its intention to get an expression of opinion from all interested parties as to the improvements required in the existing law, and to amend the Act as it sees fit after ascertaining the views of the different interests. Nothing can be done during the present short session which will end before Christmas; but another session will be called abouf February when the Ministry expects to have some thing concrete on the subject to put before Parliament. Meanwhile very little will be done under the existing MINING DISPUTE. wl? he- coal sit"ation in New SoutK Wales is one beyond the purview of the Federal Ministry, but the new Government has endeavoured to keep the tlement; although, as the issue is confined to one State, the Federal authonties have no power to intervene. 1. seemed to me when over there that both parties to the dispute were simply testing each other out on the policy of direct action, The employers had closed mines and refused to consider any suggestion from any quarter snort ™bmit Bted eP ttan« e °f tUe PoSals «S submitted, to the men nearly twelve months ago. Of course, only some. Z* ah- ou\, half the Ws ™* S —those m the northern area."