The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 19, 1029. FACING THE FACTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 19, 1029. FACING THE FACTS.

The Cpmmomvealth will have a Labour Government in, charge at Canberra next week, and the Government will be strong enough to work its own sweet will—at least so far as the Lower House is concerned. The Coalition Government..,has been so well beaten as to be practically extinguished. Hie defeat of a Prime Minister is rather an unusual circumstance, but there is no doubt about the fate of Mr Bruce, wiio despite his prestige and record, has been defeated by a Labour nominee. Labour in power will have to face the facts. In the course of the election campaign the Labour Leader (Mr Scullin) was not at all definite about Labour’s policy. He outlined several policy . headings, but failed to supply crucial details and till these are forthcoming judgment may be suspended. Speaking on .what was the main cause of the dissolution leading up to the General Election, Mr Scullin was a

strong advocate for the retention of the Federal Arbitration Court. But the remarkable fact remains that while he advocated its retention, the Labour in.ons were defying the judgments of the Court, and had thereby created strikes and serious Labour upheavals, ilie special fact which Labour will have to. face will be the finan.ial. Labour in Australia has had the facility for doing th.ngs extravagantly. Mr McCormack, the defeated Premier of. Queensland said lately that “one of the mistakes made by Labour, was to persuade the Government to do uneconomic things.” Labour in Australia is ruled largely by the caucus, and Ministers are driven to do things at times whi,h they must know will lead to difficulty. Aii Australian paper said the other day: “Labour in office has been always a bad financier. It has been extravagunWit has increased tax-ation—-it has borrowed too much—it has piled up deceits. All this is the result of its attempt to do uneconomic things.” And yet, with a re.ord such as tins, the Australian public voted jack the Party with,a record majority, xhe public must Le prepared to take the consequences of its action. At all events, whether prepared or not, it must submit to Labour rule now for a definite period. In connection with the financial issue, it is disquieting to note the trend of tne comment by the English papers on the past effect of Labour ,iule in politics. The m.stakes and disasters are remembered, and what sems to be a word of warning is issued. r ihat woia of warning has come rather late to be of service, for the public has accepted the glib promises of Labour, and has given the Party its greatest chance yet to carry on. Unfortunately at this juncture the prosperity of Australia will suffer also jy. the state of the wool market, Great wealth rolls into the country annually following the wool sale-, but the prices are likely to decline, and this loss of income' will not be for the general good, the new’ Government will therefore face a difficult, financial Situation, and it. is not hopeful to think that Mr Theodore, , who controlled the State finances of Queensland, is the suggested nominee to direct the financial fortunes of the Commonwealth. A deflation, period .is passing over Australia making the situation more difficult still, and the task of the new Government the more complex.