STRAWS IN THE WIND

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 82, 27 November 1931, Page 4

STRAWS IN THE WIND

The defeat of the Scullin Ministry in Australia, which was brought about by an unholy, if temporary, alliance between the ofhcial Opposition and the extreme Labour gi-oup led by Mr. J. A. Beasley, ond of Mr. Scullin's former Ministers, is but another sign of the times in Empire politics. Something more than has yet appeared lies behind Mr. Beasley's -action in assisting the combination of Moderates led by Mr. J. A. Lyons, another ex-Labour Minister, to turn their former chief out of offiee. ^oth have on previous occasions had opportunities to do what they have now done on grounds which would have reflected greater credit upon themselves and their associates. Thos'e who know Mr. Beasley's political history will not easily accept as genuine his apparent indignation regarding the vote-buying graft with which he charges Mr. Scullin and Mr. Theodore. His real reasons probably lie in an entirely different directioh. Certain recent events, i-ndeed, seem to suggest thati it is not necessary to look far to discover them. A guess may be hazardecl that the outcome of the recent British elections is probably not the least of them. Another not unconnected event may be the recently announced decision of Mr. J. T. Lang, the Premier of New South Wales, to forsake State politics in favour nf the Federal arena as1 offering wider scope for the employment of his special gifts. At first glance the connection between the British elections, Mr. Lang's ambitions and Mr. Beasley's latest action may not be very obvious. It is necessary first to realise that the brand of politics offered by Messrs. Lang and Beasley depends for its success, at least in a British country, upon the existehce of abnormal conditions. These the economic .situation has provided in full meastire during the past two years. There is now, however, definite reason to expect a gradual improvement. The slump is beyond question slowly passing, and chief among the causes of the brighter outlook is the determination of the people of Great Britain, as expressed through the ballot-box, to get back to thef safe„ if harder road and achieve by hard work and sacrifice what high-sounding talk and doles and other methods of shirking the issue have so signally failed to do. As Mr. Lang and Mr. Beasley and their followers, whatever else they may be, are no fools where their own interests are concerned, they have probably realised that by just so much as economic conditions improve are their chances of continuing to hopdwink the'Australian people rednced. Action of some sort was therefore to be expected from them and it is probable that the iriotion which proved the Scullin Ministry's downfall was framed with a view to making it difficult, if not impossible, for "the Opposition to withhold its support, rather than from any anxiety-.to protect the public's interests. But if the Lang-Beasley group were influenced by the considerations we have iridicated, Mr. ; Lyons and his supporters were not uninfluenced by the Same circumstances, though from a different angle. Just as in New Zealand the Coalition Qovernment is basing its appeal to the electors largely on the precedent established in the Old C0untry,' so-- it may be expected, will Mr. Lyon's party, in the coming election campaign, point to recent events at Home as supporting its claim to be entrusted with the task of guiding the Gommonwealth back toward financial sanity and economic stability.