The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1908. THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN QUEENSLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3787, 11 February 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1908. THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN QUEENSLAND.

It may seem a long cry irom New Zealand to Queensland, and a political situation there of very little importance, generally speaking; to us here. There are, however, certain features in connection with the position in Queensland that affect every self - governing State within the Empire, and the battle that was fought over there last Wednesday is interesting to every student of political economy. In May last, according to the triennial system of elections, Mr Kidston, then Premier, had to go to the country for endorsement, or otherwise, at the hands of the electors. Previously, Mr Kidston had been one of the leaders of the Labour Party, but on assuming office, had cast aside his relationship with the Labourites, and appealed to the country for a sufficient following to carry on the Government without their aid. The country did not give him the number he required to do this, and he was thrown back on the Support of the Labour Party to hold office. This they willlflgly accorded to him as long as he was prepared to carry out legislation in accordance with their programme. This being the price of their adherence, he had either to agree or relinquish office. At that particular time the strength of parties was: Kidstonites 27, Labour Party 15, Philpites 30. Out of a House of 72 members, neither party .could carry on the business of the country alone, but as the Kidstonites were prepared to carry out progressive measures, the Labour Party gave them an independent support. Now, although the Philp Party was weak in the Legislative Assembly, they had a preponderance of support in the nominee chamber, known as the Legislative Council. The consequence was that the measures sent up from the Legislative Assembly were either thrown out absolutely, or mutilated beyond recognition. During three months the Council threw out six bills, and made several others non-effective. The position was ludicrous and untenable for any length of time, and the crisis was precipitated probably by Philp—the leader of the Opposition in ' the Assembly—twitting the Premier with being Premier in

name only, “the real Premier of Queensland,” he said,'“was Mr Thynne ” —the leader of the Opposition in the Council. As Kidston was being beaten in every measure he waited upon the Governor— Lord Chelmsford and sought authority, if necessary, to create new members in the Council to enable him to carry *his measures through The Governor declined to accept this proposal, and Mr Kidston tendered his resignation immediately. The Governor then sent for Mr Philp to form a Ministry. This he undertook to do, and appeared before the House a week later and named the new Government. Within five minutes a ‘ ‘ no-confidence ’ ’ motion in the new Government was carried, and the Philp administration, one would naturally have supposed, there and then ended. Mr Philp then sought the Governor and asked him for a dissolution as he had been defeated. The Governor at once granted his request. Philp met the House and asked for supply to carry him over the elections. The House refused to grant him one penny, carried a resolution by a substantial majority protesting against a dissolution, and asserted their ability and readiness to carry out the programme on which they had been elected only six months before. The Governor refused this petition, dissolved Parliament, and kept as his advisers and in charge of the - Government departments a Ministry not only discreditable, but humiliated beyond measure in the Legislative Assembly. The State ceased to be governed by the will of the people, and practically became a Crown colony. Whatever money has been expended since Parliament met in November last, is so expended contrary to the wish of the people’s representatives, and only by the authority of the Governor. This was the constitutional position raised by the Governor’s action, and the people of Queensland, as might have been expected, have repudiated the Governor’s interference with their rights as free citizens by sending his self constituted Ministry to the right about. In the election of last Wednesday, Philp himself and two of his colleagues have been ignominiously defeated, and his party placed in a minority. Whatever diversity of opinion may exist concerning the character of the parties, or the legislation that is being put upon the Statute Book, it is satisfactory to find that the people of these States will not tolerate any interference with their free institutions by any gilded aristocrat who considers himself invested with a higher authority than the will of the people. We may very soon hear of Lord. Chelmford’s hasty retreat “ ’Ome.”