“HOW LABOR GOVERNS.”

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1923, Page 1

“HOW LABOR GOVERNS.”

(Sydney Herald). 1 1 j s an ironic circumstance that the keenest critics of Labour’s political methods and achievements are those who belong, or have belonged, to the mmeinent themselves. .Moreover, their thrusts are the more telling because they are armed with inside information. They know exactly where to lint! the joints in their colleagues’ harness, or, to change the metaphor, they know which clipboard contains the skeleton They may even have helped to put it there. Frequently they denounce their “comrades'’ in terms which the most case-hardened opponent, oi Labour would hesitate to employ. One lias only to remember the acrimonious atmosphere of the recent A.L.l*. tonieience, the invective and taunts and objurgations that Idled the air. When Labour gum about to set it- house in order, a good ileal ot du-l i- raised in the process. The latest to hear witness against Labour i* Air A . (Tilde in "How Labour Coverns.' Although he is very plain-spoken, he nowhere indulges in abu-c. hut his observation-, are nolle the less entislic <m tlmt account. Alter a distinguished course ai the universities ol Sydney and Oxford. Mr C'hilde spent some time in Queensland. and was >iibsei|iiently private secretary to -Mr dolm Storey. His book is a history of the Labour movement in Australia during lilt- 10-i iivi-iiiy years, amt from olio point of view may Ih> regarded- as a warning addre.-ed to Labour in other countries as to what it should avoid. One imagines that it will cause considerable agilaliou and irritation in local Labour circles, and many of bin statements are sure to lie challenged, ’[he opponents of Labour, however, must not suppose that -Mr C hilde is a brand snatched from Wie burning. Sf# is an uncompromising antagonist of the Tories and the capitalist system. He docs not deline his own political creed, but i here is not the slightest doubt l hat lie believes that little is to be Imped from Labour with it' present ideals and organisation. Mr Childe comments on the phenomenon that the caucus system discourage- originality and brilliance. "The exceptional man is always sti-;-]>ect. When a man of marked ability does succeed in gaining the lead, like Holman or Theodore, he tends In become nuuK-ratie. man of outstanding ability and dominating personality naturallv re-ents dictation li\;m the c less gifted and well-informed than himself. . . The democratic discipline of the Labour party has in several instances turned such men into apostate-." Still, it- cannot be helped. Discipline must be maintained, and the individual mii-l subjugate hini.-eli to the cause. Mr Childe quotes with approval the action ot those ('iieonslaiid stalwarts in IDlf. who. though they were satisfied that universal service was necessary, "loyally subordinated their own opinions to the dictates ef the movement and took the slump against consrription." The one Labour member in Queensland who had the courage of his convictions, refused to accept the decision and left the,