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Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1929, Page 4

A Waterloo is always in waking for nemo, ratio governments. The Qne.ns,„nd i.-ahour Government alter a long reign in oilae has laid to succumb to lie uievilabe. .Many causes are given ,or the defeat which was a in st do(isi.e'one. The government, however, appears to have outlived its usefulness, even from the Labour point ol view. .Much as it did f.r the fraternity, these -were demands it could not accede to, and so we. are told by the defeated Premier that lie attr.bates his eclipse to the- attitude the G vernnient had to take up some.time ago tv the extravagant demands of the railway and waterside workers. This lie would consider the most un kindest nt, of all. especially as his opponents attribute the defeat to the extrava■an e of the Go.'eminent in the desire to serve State control. The Ministry was thus caught between.two forces, •nd a crushing defeat has ensued. Queensland Ims been under the dominance of Lab'Air for fourteen ’years. Labour succeeded a Conservative Govrnment which had lug been entrenched. and began to reform the nnblie administration along the linos f SMite Socialism, which appears to be the bent invariably of Labour rule : n all countries. Incidentally trade uni mi ism had all the privileges and consideration the Government co’dd mete out to it, till the demands became so extravagant that there was a crisis within the ranks of Labour. The Government had to take up a hostile attitude to the strikers who were paralysing the transport cf the country and causing einrmous loss and ruin, ’’’he unionism was organised beyond tin authority of the Government, and the regressive measures became a cause In - the political defeat, through the rank and file of the organisation turning against those in authority. The new Government will have a task similar to that of this Dominion—to solve the, unemployed problem, and enliven industry for greater production. The Queensland Government has been debited with charges of general mismanagement, this notably with S’ta'e enterprises. There are sure to he abandoned as soon as possible so as to cut the accruing loss. The new Government must needs inspire public confidence if trade is to revive immediately. but so far there is not time far anv declaration of policy. The experience of Queensland brings home again the lesson that in polities it is rot altogether difficult to outlive- a neriod of usefulness, along lines even oopular with a ruling par‘y, for tlmre '•eeins no walk in life where the doin' for a change is not more pronounced than in regard to local and general polities. Meantime the Queensland example is brnng held up as a danger signal in all things political.