IN DEFENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10608, 5 June 1920, Page 7

IN DEFENCE

QUEENSLAND LABOUR POLICY.

PREMIER REPLIES TO DR KEITH.

Australian and N 7,. CnWp Association. LONDON, Juno 3.

Mr E. G. Theodore, replying to Dr Berriedalo Keith, says that the referendum procedure is too cumbersome to settle disputes between the two Housea of Parliament in Queensland. He denies Dr Keith's assertion that the swamping of the Council means its abolition as an actively independent body. Mr Theodore adds that tho Council is hostile to the majority party in the Lower House. It is a mere obstruction, and is serving no useful purposo to the democracy of the State. Ho emphatically denies that it is unwise or unusual for the Government party to havo a. majority in the Council. '"Dr Keith's deduction appears to bo that the Council's independence is only imperilled w»hen tho Labour party has a majority in the Council. Dr Keith's fears arise from prejudice, through an imperfect understanding of tbe'.aims of tho Labour party." Mr Theodore concludes: "Tho constitution and Parliamentary institutions, and the interests of British investors, aro perfectly safe in Labour's keeping. Tho Labour movement in Australia "is the real sheet-anchor of safety atrainst tho destructive tendencies of tho direct actionists, and the inevitable stagnation of tho ultraConsorvativo policy." A number of members of the Labour party .gave a private luncheon to Mr Theodore in. tho House of Commons.