The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1908. VICTORIAN POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2374, 15 December 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1908. VICTORIAN POLITICS.

Those students of Australasian politics who professed to find a likeness between the late Mr. R. J. Seddon and Sir Thomas Bent will have found in the recent defeat of the Victorian Premier an opportunity lor some curious reflections, which, if pursued, would suggest that New Zealand’s great leader was particularly fortunate in having his career cut short while liis political star was in the ascendant. Sir Thomas Bent, however, lias been permitted to hold the reins of office until the gathering storm of discontent has proved strong enough to overwhelm him, and ten days ago he suffered a disastrous defeat. Ally very close comparison between these two public rnon would, as we New Zealanders Know, bo unfair to the reputation of the late Mr. Seddon, but that there were some strong points of resemblance is clearly shown by the similarity'of the opposition that both created. Thus Mr. Murray, formerly a member of Mr. Bent’s Ministry, who moved flic motion of want of confidence in the Bent Government, which was carried by 37 votes to 25, used terms that would in all probability have been those chosen by the opponents of New Zealand’s' late Premier had bis position ever been challenged. Mr. Murray spoke as follows Ever sinco. Sir Thomas Bent lias assumed the reins of leadership this has become more and more a oneman Government, and with liis advent as Premier has disappeared almost entirely' the individual responsibility of Ministers. My objection to the Premier as* one of his Ministers was that he was always attempting to interfere unduly with the administration of offices with which directly lie had nothing to do. He bad an overweening belief in his own powers, and too little confidence in those of his Ministers. He has during this session shown none of those qualifications which would produce loyalty and successful effort in Parliament-. It seems as if the Premier by his actions has lost belief in himself. Then how can he expect others to believe in him ? In his paltering with great public questions I suppose we must make his colleagues share what blame attaches to them. Mr. Murray, continuing, said : No Government Department lias drawn so much money as the Agricultural Department without giving any return for it, It did more educational work under the old regime than it is doing under the new arrangement and the increased expenditure. The Department is run for the most part by faddists. I wish also to refer to the practices <1 servility and -subserviency which have been caused by this man, win is so enamoured with his "own importance that he ha 6 come to look upon himself as a god. His Irenenient of those bodies which have gone to him for assistance n»_s spread abroad a spirit of mendicancy, and people have become accustomed to approach him cap in hand to beg assistance. No provision whatever- has been made for the various railways dangled before the people by this trust-to-grace, trust-to-chance, trust-to-God Ministry. It is a Micawber Ministry, always waiting for • something to ■turn up, or, rather, for a golden shower to come down ond fill up the

TreasurySufficient ’has been quoted to show that the defeat of the Bent Government has been caused not so much because of any great political issues at stake, but as a protest against autocracy. By the Melbourne papers which have just come to hand it would appear that the action of the Governor in granting Sir Thomas Bent a dissolution was quito unexpected. It was generally thought that Mr. Murray would bo asked to form a Ministry, and the chief interest lay in his ability to carry on business without seeking aid from the Labor party. If he had taken office and obtained this support lie would simply have placed Victorian politics in the same liopoless muddle las lias characterised the Federal political situation for some time. The Labor party has hold tlic balance of power, and while Mr. Deakin was Premier he merely held office at the will of the Laborites, who could at any time by voting with the Opposition overthrow the Ministry. Thus the Commonwealth Premier was placed in a most humiliating position, being compelled to legislate •according to the dictates of liis socialistic allies %vho controlled the Federal policy without being burdened with the responsibilities of office. Finally, wlien the time seemed opportune, the Laborites compelled Mr. Deakin to resign and their leader, Mr. Fisher, became Premier. The latter, however, has so small a following that he could not hold -tlie position a single day il : his opponents joined forces, and Mr. Deakin oould in liis .turn upset the present Government if he chose to do so. The three-party system has certainly provided no end of trouble in the Federal Parliament, Jand it'-- is feared that a similar situation may

arise in Victoria. However, now that fresh elections are to bo held, it quite possible that the country may stand hy Sir Thomas Bent and again give him a working majority. Thereseems to be a strong feeling that as he had recently re-constructed bis Min-; istry he should have been given a reasonable opportunity to put his political programme into execution.