The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1929. THE FEDERAL CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1929. THE FEDERAL CRISIS.

The proposal of the' Bruce-Page Government to abolish' arbitration as a Federal concern, and leave the settling of industrial disputes entirely to the State legislative machinery, which was the immediate of the defeat of the Government bn a critical division, is viewed from various standpoints in Australia. To ensure the defeat of the Government, non-Labour members hitherto supporting the Government voted with the redoubtable Mr Hughes against the Government, which was defeated by the narrow margin of one vote. When the proposal was first mooted as a definite policy, Mr Bruce was accused, as a correspondent has put it, of desiring to abandon arbitration as a sphere of Federal activity, not as a matter of public weal, but simply to evade the responsibilities it brings, and to'make things easier generally as far ns the Commonwealth Government is concerned. Mr Bruce has ever been noted for seeking the easiest way—the number of Commissions he has set up is notorious. The unpopularity of the * Bruce-Page combination has been in no way diminished by the latest Budget, in which a heavy and comprehensive tax on amusements is provided, and also further taxation on liquors and tobacco. As for the amusement tax, one would think;'that the skies had burst—or at least Federal members must think it, judging -by the thousands of letters and .telegrams of protest with which they are deluged, insisting that they shall vote against these forms of taxation. Even the Conservative Press admits that the Budget is a sorry affair, and hints that some other portfolio might be found for the bungling Treasurer, Dr Earle Page. The, trouble with Mr Page, says the correspondent, is that Jiq is an excessively optimistic politician,, with the gobbling propensities of a turkey., In successive years he. has spent more and more., and last year’s expenditure was based on ex- | pectations of revenue which did not accrue. Now be is taking it out of the taxpayer—and the taxpayer is vowing to take it out of the bide of Page and the Government generally at the first opportunity—which seemingly will not be very distant. And, on the contrary, the mantle of fame Tins once more enveloned the diminutive form of William Morris Hughes, “The Diggers’ Friend.” For a period lie bad languished out of the fierce light which beats upon a foremost politician, but now lie is regarded as a kind of glorified martyr, because be has b»en excluded by Mr Bruce from attending the meetings of the Nationalist Caucus, for having voted with the Opnosition against the Government over the matter of the abandonment of the John

Brown prosecution. It must not be forgotien that there is a great deal of dissension in the National .party, due to the manner in which the Prime Minister has several times shuffled his Cabinets, and there are several “disappointeds ’ who have not yet shown their hands. They may find their excuse to do so when the fate of the Maritime Bill (which is the innocentsounding title of the bill to abandon Federal arbitration) is decided, for, unlike the vote of censure over the John Brown prosecution, which was a direct assault on the Government, the Maritime Bill is a measure which men of any party should be free to vote upon according to their convictions. This kind of comment does not augur well for the fate of the Bruce Government to be finally decided in five weeks’ time. But there is one aspect for consideration—the alternative to Mr Bruce as leader. Great as was the record of Mr- W. M. Hughes, lie has not the following in the House or the country, though it might be possible for bi n to stage a “come-back” as Sir Joseph Ward did, but the circumstances in Australia are hardly similar to those of New Zealand. Mr Hughes has not even the remnant of a party unless it can materialise quickly. There remains the official Labour party, but it has not been prominent in Federal polities since the National Party was constituted. Labour, due to the frequent recurrence of strikes and industrial troubles, is not popular with the masses, as was demonstrated lately in Queensland, so that the choice of personalities is limited. , Mr Bruce, on other hand, is a notable figure/ and personally stands in high esteem.' His politics are safe nation ally t and regarding the present state of industrial unrest, the country will feel safer . with Mr Bruce at the head of affairs. J On the face of things, despite the j political shortcomings of the Bruce, Government ,but looking to its sin erliy of service, and the desire to maintain loyalty at its proper level, it would appear the Commonwealth when making its political decision will consider it wisest to vote for safety first.