STILL THE SAME OLD GAME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 226, 18 May 1932, Page 4

STILL THE SAME OLD GAME

During the past few weeks political events in Australia have bulked largely in the news cablecl from that country. Mr. Lang's meteoric career progressed at headlong speed amid showers of sparks until, still meteor-like, it ended, with dramatic suddenness in eclipse, and perhaps final extinction. At the same time, the Melbourne Trades Hall, while not openly adhering to Mr. Lang's famous plan, appears to have smashed the Victorian Labour Party to pieces during the temporary absence of its strong and moderate leader, Mr. E. J. Hogan, by refusing to adhere to the rival plan adopted by the Australian Premiers' Conference. The result has been the fall, within a week, of two of the last three Labour Government's in the Commonwealth which, until quite recently was the Empire's Labour stronghold. Because of Australia's proximity to this country and the strong influence events across the Tasman exert on this side, it is necessary to understand something of their significance. Stripped of its picturesque trimmings, the quarrel between Langism and the Premiers' Plan; otherwise extreme Labour and the Nationalist (now the United Australia) Party is precisely that between the Coalition and Labour in this country, namely, inflation versus deflation. The methods employed in the fight may diifer radically but their purpose is essentially the i same.^ Mr. Lang and his party believe that at all costs prices, especially the price of labour, should be maintained at a high level. _ The States, however, have no jurisdiction over matters aifecting the whole nation, such as currency, customs tariffs, and exchange rates. In some cases even State arbitration awards can be over-ridden or nullified by the Federal law. Mr. Lang's legal or legitimate. opportunities to put his policy into effective practice have therefore been severely limited. His attempt, at hrst to capture and finally to browbeat the Federal Labour Party into adherence to his "plan" dnded in disaster to the party at the Federal elections which his Iittle group of supporters in the Kouse of Representatives brought about at his orders. Since then his chances of success have been exactly nil. But Mr. Lang is not the type to accept defeat easily or gracefully. As, also, his guiding rule in politics is, and always has been, that the end justifies the means, desperate measures to achieve his ends Were more or less inevitable. These have 'now ended as lie probably saw they niust do sooner or later, but it is doubtful whether even he would have ^one as far as he did had he foreseen the widespread repercussions of his actions. The result has been an extraordinary swing from Labour, everywhere the issues have been put to the test of an election, and it is probable that ' this will be continued next month in his own State and also in Queensland, where the Nationalist Government is also facing a general election. On the other side of the picture, how have the United^ Australia and Country parties measured up to their opportunities and responsibilities. In the Federal sphere, an excellent example was set to begin with. The best elements in the moderate Labour ranks were co-opted and a Labour man, Mr. J. A._ Lyons, ^ who had shown his mettle as a member of Mr. Scullin's Cajbinet until foolishly and callously jettisoned by his weak leadef, was elected to the leader ship. It is doubtful, however, whether Mr. Lyons' Government will justify the high hopes of its supporters. Since it took control it has, of course, been preoccupied with checking the subversive activities of the egregious Mr. Lang, but apart from this, it has not shown a great deal of either enterprise or originality. In New South Wales it is too early to judge and though the return of Mr. Stevens with a working majority may reasonably be considered probable, and Mr. Stevens himself has a record which justifies his supporters expectations of wise and sound administration, his ministerial team, announced yesterday, does not suggest anything very new or original. Most of them have held office in previous National Ministries and though several have undoubted ability none has really outstanding gifts. In short, it is largely the old story" of the faithful and safe being preferred to the untried man, no matter how brilliant. In politics apparently, under the modern development of the party system, there is little room for enterprise and adaptation to changing circumstances, except of an undesirable kind. And so politics remains, no mattei ' how dfesperdte the country's need, still largely the good old game of thq Ins versus the Outs.