The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1915. QUENSLAND ELECTIONS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 218, 2 June 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1915. QUENSLAND ELECTIONS.

(With, which ia incorporated The Taihape Post uni Waimarino Newa.)

Labour Government in the Commonwealth has just received most striking testimony to the confidence' it enjoys in the Northern State. It was believed that in the recent ©lections in Queensland the' Liberal party, that then held the reins of government, would secure a comfortable majority, at any rate, an almost certain return to power; but th 8 unexpected has again happened; and the Liberal majority has not only been wiped out, but the whole party was so signally defeated as to have scarcely a voic e left to make itself heard In the .newly constituted House. Only circumstances of a most extreme* nature could have operated to bring about such remarkable results, a something that could account for a revulsion of feeling so sweeping in its mandates ae to render the remnant left quite ineffective for aggressive, or, in unv c(iV tv useful work. So far

from Labour administration of National affairs proving a bane to the country, the people of an important State are almost unanimously acclaiming its virtues and usefulness. Wjhat the immediate and direct causes of the wholesale rejection of the Government are, no one seems to be quite certain, and it appears to be the -result of one of. those waves of aversion or repugnancy .that arise from a combination and cumulation of various shortcomings.. Queenslanders have suffered much at the hands of the Colonial Sugar Company; cries for justice have risejfc above the din of every day politic# for a very long time past without avail, and until th e whole State’s sympathy has gone out to the injured.. Its collective detestation is now reflected in the election returns. The people of Australia hav e merely given another unmistakable indication that methods so averse to the public welfare, and that are so largely tinctured wtih contemptuous indifference for the rights of sugar growers, distributors and consumers as to call forth a public scathing indictment from the Hon. Mr Hughes, are not going to be tolerated in the Commonwealth. It is almost invariably the practice of such methods that bring about the downfall of any government that -either encourages or permits them. With Government connivance this sugar octupus has placed its tentacles firmly around the markets of Australasia; prevented all effective competition; made huge profits; built up colossal assets, hidden from public scrutiny, by ingenious methods, and has become immensely rich by such squeezings as th e most unscrupulous combinations might be guilty of. Tire people of Queensland have been the greatest sufferers, and now their voices has been heard, voices of no uncertain sound, for, most assuredly the vulturisms of conscienceless trading syndicates will b© the first objects of attack. The Queensland elections are not without significance to us in New .Zealand. Ther e are evidences, that we, In this country, cannot disregard, of unfair, improper and unjust practices, which cur Government is indifferently or with closed eyes, allowing to -continue, if they do not actually participate therein. These practises, can only have one result, as proved by all human experience, th e people’s resentment and condemnation. Whether it be Labour Government or Tory Government, it may live for a time, but there is nothing more certain to happen to any Government that does not. ulace the best interests of the nation beyond the reach of section, party or individual aggrandisement, than a speedy and well-deserved downfall, if not extinction. The people to-day are no less insistent about right and justice than those of centuries ago who bailed up John and his followers.