The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday, October 15, 1929. FEDERAL POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. Tuesday, October 15, 1929. FEDERAL POLITICS.

Fedkisai, politics are likely to be very auieh at var.anee for some time. Although the Labour Party has secured sometning of a sweeping victory at the polls in the elections last week for the House of Representatives, there is siill a Nationalist maiority in the Senate, and that advantage is likely to blo.k Labour legislation for the t.mebeing. It is possible of course if the opposition of tlie Senate should become too obstructive that the new Government might ask for a double dissolution and have the election all over again ! Although this eventuality is quite within the reign of possibility, the geneial stuation calls for some patience, and a way out may be found Without taxxiig tne last resource of a general election. Mr Scullin, who it may be expected at this juncture, will be tlie Prune Minister of the Federation, is a'party man who is highly respected, and acting un to his record, lie may be able to lioid the fort adequately without a complete breach with tlie (senate, in that way the Senate will be something of a brake on extreme Labour proposals, but it remains to be seen how such a situation will be appreciated by the rank and file of the party. Mr Theodore is almost sure to be the deputy-leader of the Government, and as such, will have considerable say m the Ministerial programme. He may be inclined to force the pace in which event a conflict between tlie two Houses will result, and a double dissolution alone can end the situation. Some account of the position of Mr Hughes and h.s small party at this juncture might be taken. Mr Hughes and his immediate following were responsible for the upsetting ot the Government but the little party is not likly to.be the same factor in the new House when it assembles. Labour will have a ma.oritv apparently independent of Mr Hughes and his compatriots, and it wni lie interesting to see how far tlie party will be recognised or ignored as the case may be. The position will be clearer when the new Ministry is formed. Doubtless the most important portfolio in the Government, will be that.of the Federal Treasurer. The defeated Ministry did not make a good showing with its finance, for it produced a deficit which it proposed to wipe out with extra taxation. It was probably the financial policy rather than the arbitration issue, which wrecked the Bruce-Page Coalition. In the new Ministry Mr Theodore is considered first claimant for the position of Treasurer. His record in Queensland when in charge of the State will be hardly helpful to the Government, if his services and advice have to be relied upon at the present juncture. Tli world-money market is not in a buoyant mood at present. The outlook for w r ool, the great asset of Australia, is not over bright. On ton of these two adverse factors, Mr Theodore, of Queensland finan ial fame, does not appear the right man to direct the .naneial fortunes of the Commonwealth. Writing before the polls, a Sydney correspondent, in weighing the possibilities of the election, said fixi Theodore’s appointment as Federal Treasurer “wouFcl be one of the greatest political tragedies ever perpetuated.” In that post he would be largely the dominating Mini;ter of the Federal Cabinet, and on tlie face of things that does not appear to be good for the financial future of the country. The Labour Party will therefore enter on a very difficult task in assuming the reigns of office. The moods of its own followers are not necessarily helpful. With strikes prevailing there is the task of upholding the law of the land, and the strikers invariably flout the law. The Government has a nice duty to perform in dealing with those opposing the law r . The rehabilitation of the finances of the country is- another special task. Setting the house in order is the special duty of the Government at this juncture and it is going to he quite a substantial task to fill the bill in all the circumstances.