LIVELY POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1920, Page 3

LIVELY POLITICS

N.S.W. LABOUR GOVERNMENT,

SYDNEY, June 11

The political sensation of the week—there is a political sensation in this country every wepk—.is the appointment'of Mr Bee by to the Arbitration Court Bench. Therh 7s nothing remarkable' in the appointment itself—Mr Beeby is eminently well qualified for the position—Vut it is the political consequences of the appointment that have driven the Nationalists to fury, and set [lie Labourites chuckling. When the recent New South Wales elections were all over, if was found that exactly half thp seats were held by the'Nationalists and Progressives, two distinct parties, the Progressives being a breakaway from the Nationalists. Everyone said the Labour party could not carry on; they had to elect a Speaker,'and then (hey would bo in a minority of one. The Labour pten countered cleverly by persuading the old Nationalist Speaker, hip LOYY, If) car U’ on The Nationalists foamed at the mouth, but Mr Levy, said frankly enough, that he did not see why he should assist in making the Speaker«hm fhe pipy thing pf the parties. Then the Progressives said they would no yote against Lphpur so long as Labour’s policy was moderate and reasonable. So the three days’ session came to an end with the honours of war with Labour. The Nationalists have spent the interval in sharpening their weapons, and they propfieried a anry, and merry life for the Labour Government when the main sessipy opened thjs week. But just before Parliament oppnpd it was announced that Mr. Bppby, deputy leader of 'the. Progressives had been appointed as judge. Result; The Government lias- now »\ majority pf t"’o, ovel ! any possible anti-Labour combination The Nationalists have lost Mr l.<evy (Speaker), and the Progressives Mr Beeby (Judge). The vacancy cannot bo filled untif the Government Provides machinery for a. bye-election. There does not seem to be anything of the kind under the proportional representation (three aiul fivo member electorates) system . Anyhoiy, the Government is committed to the destruction of this system—so a ne\v electoral 1«W, providing the old first-past-the-post system, v.-ill probably be rushed through in time for this by-election. Labour will make a great effort to win this by-election. It 'would then have a majority of three. Meanwhile, the Nationalists are lash- • ing themselves into a fury »vm< the sins i of° the. Labour Government, and the • Progressives are looking tolerantly on. ! They have not shown their hand vet. There is an extraordinary amount of ! sympathy with this Labcfur Government, which is frankly moderate and loyal ill pine i while the shrieking, querulous note of the Nationalist organisation appears to b e alienating Nationalist supporters. It is noteworthy, for instance that the “Daily Telegraph,” a Conservative morning paper, has nd-

opted practically, a non-committal attitude, and is showing friendship for Mr Storey and annoyance with the Nationalist tactics in its news columns.