The Daily News SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1904. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 93, 23 April 1904, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1904. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

The Federal Ministry has been defeated mid Mr Watson, Leader of the Labour Party, has been "sent for." The downfall of Mr Peakin's Ministry has been looked upon ns a foregone conclusion owing to tile Arbitration Hill introduced by the Government failing to include provisions to bring the railway servants within its scope. An amendment was however introduced by Mr Fisher that all State servants should ho subjected to the Arbitration Act, ami that amendment has been carried by I! Bto 29. The Labour Party is therefore in the ascendant jin Federal politics, and it is interesting to speculate upon what is going to happen. In Melbourne it was pretty well understood that Mr Watson would 'be wn't for to form a Ministry and the course he would take has been much discussed. If Mr Kingston were in good health it is thought thai Mr Watson might recommend (hat he should undertake the formation of a minis)ry, but his illness puts him oul of it at present. The Speaker, Sir Frederick Holder, lias also been mentioned' as a possible Premier, but then it is not considered likely thai he will resign his ollice. on the olTchuncc of reigning for a doubtful period as head of the Commonwealth Govertnmont. The greater proh'aHilit.y is Urn Mr Watsou will essay the formation of a government himself. And, to quote Ihe Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald, ■_\ow comes the question whether Mr Watson, having formed a Government, would he aide to command a majority. Talking with a politician of great experience to-nig'ht, 1 gathered that his opinions ran pretty much in this groove. Mr Watson would succeed in forming a Government Willi distinct Labour leanings, and (lie assumption of responsibility would have a very steadying effect | upon him and his party. T),,.y would nave to refuse many things which now they com end should be granted, anil though (hey might retain Hie confidence of their own party in t)iuHouse, they would lose it from ti, ejr supporters outside. The. alliance with the Ka'dicals of other sections of (he House for destructive purposes would soon be- dissolved, and tile Government might hist six months but not much longer. Then (he coalition lor which Mr Peakin asked might come -uiljout—moderates on one side and Ka'dicals on the other. A new man would be sent for—possibly Mr Jleid—and a Government could be formed, which might " last for jcars. A coalition could not well take place now between the Government and the Opposition, because they are not on the same level, and (hey must be put on it .before they can coalesce. There might 'be then a chance of an era of useful government being inaugurated. At present there is none. Meanwhile, the only tiling is that probabilities point to what, is almost a certainty, that hy next Friday there will be a new Go\eminent, or that old Ministers are simply holding oUici , IIIUJI lht , h . successors are appointed." How correct was the prediction contained in the above may be seen from the l'ie K rams in another part of tolla!'i paper. Mr Watson has a strong supporter in the bulletin. which urges him to "reach out for ollice" ami direct eonlrol of the Federal Government. It says that if the party 'took ollice with a polirj wi.ilh.\ of it, . as a parly that, is in

(au.nr of iiifli Protection, of no boirouine, of payrny for „l| ~,,1,1],. works dhl „i revenue, „( absentee

I.''-;, heavy graduated land lax Ui bVcak up the l,i E ..-scales iiiwl supplv laud lor ilic people, of consolidating mi 1 crnduulK pa.vin;; ulf 111,. Stale d'bls, of a sensible bunking law en Ihe Canadian plan, of all-round ur . bilrati.ru, ( if !'*,-(1,.|- 4 ,i control uf in. do:,trial legislation in general, of '" ••** t" '■'•'-■iiti- Australian „ iali!i . factaivs-in .-lion, if it look oilice ; ili an all-round jNatoeul pmMi itiiiu.. —: i. ceild put a drlii, ii,. ~„i liuv.-pin-ts M S |,,,,.■■ T1 „, .. ||lh . (| i'aiU' is •',„u,rjo„ :i " i„ | ],o vy ,. yi o; Clio Sydney Radical paper, hul, according (~ ||„. , w: ,„ Ilt Trades Conference in fin's colony its fon„ali,.n is ono of ll,» things needful ~, 5 ,,,., M... the aims of tlto Labour I'an v 1,,.,-,..