THE CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 189, 15 August 1904, Page 2

THE CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEEFtATED. AITEAL TO THE COUNTKY. MELBOURNE, August 13. The Federal House li!is adjourned until Wednesday next. Mr Watson is to see Lord Nortlicote (the GovernorGeneral) to-day, und will ask for a dissolution. POLITICIAN'S ON POLITICIANS. MKKEIJJ AND Slit WILLIAM LYNE SPEAK OUT. MELBOURNE, August 12. Mr G. 11. iteid, in the course of ail interview, said: "'1 he decision is one which will becomo historicut for more reasons than one ; not only because of the check, ami, I think, the decisive check, which it gives to u widespread conspiracy to push democratic principles ami liberal measures to extremes ; not In many cases because of any mistaken political delusion ; but for deep-seated considerations of self-interest in the ordinary affairs of life. J look upon the vote as one which must be followed by determined organisation, not only within the walls of Parliament, but throughout the Commonwealth. We must, strive to emulate, if not the despotism and cast-iron methods of the Labour Party, at least their personal unselfishness and unllagging zeal. It is the absence of those characteristics, one or other, which has brought upon Australia all the miseries oi minority rule and minority government."

Sir William Lyme, interviewed, said the tactics of Messrs R-oid and Deakia had ban most disgraceful tt nd unparalleled ever since the .Labour Party aunt) into oilice. Despite all Mr Heiii's bombastic staUmoiits 1 , he had not had I he courage and manliness to take a strniglitfonvund course and table a motion of censure; in fact in all his political life he never had been able to take a straightforward course. As Mr Reid was afraid to have a fair ligiiit this tricky amendment was' concoctod to; prevent freo and full debate. This was not tho fair play promised by Mr Deiakin on htthalf of his* followers 1 . The whole business from the very start, when a coalition was in' the caucuses of the free trade and protection parties, had been a kind of mysterious iutriftue. WHAT THE PAPERS BAY. PRESENT HOUSE CANNOT SUPPLY STABLE GOVERNMENT. MELBOURNE, August 13. The Argus saya tho majority against the Ministry was not lurgc, but it does not represent the strength of My? support the succeeding Cainnet will have, for at least two members voted with the Government who are opposed to its attitude on the preferential qqedtion. The Government had Ixsen from the first in an j anomalous position, having 1L majority facing it instead of sitting behind it. Its existence for four : months was due to a desire for fair play, which prompts members to give those in difficulties of portion a chance to justify themselves ; it has also beeii due to the extreme caution which characterised every movement and every action of Ministers.

" They have been assuming moderation which nothing but weak ereidu*. lity would accept as genuine, since it Contrasts with tlieir attitude before assuming office." The Age says: "The defeat oi the Watson Government by a majority of only two oil the question oi preleience to unionists creates a very peculiar situation in Federal politics. The Prime Minister and oilier members of the Cabinet right throughout the debate gave ample liMlicaUmt tliat in the event of the contingency which has now arisen they Intended to ask for a dissolution. Ihe smallness of t;he majority itself is enough to indicate the hopelessness i.f attempting for a stable ndminisli ation in the present House, l'lio while situation, indeed, suggests that if Mr Watson asks for a dissolution it should not lie refused. Far-reaching-mils importance is this point about preference to unionist!, upon which Mr Watson made his final stand, and it amply justifies his urging on the attention of the Government the national necessity of getting n direct mandate from the people 011 tho subjoet, Mr Iteid does not, and cannot, represent the Commonwealth —lie does not even represent tlio Opposition, the real Opposition. At t'lje I imo wlwn Parliament met it was Mr Watson's party which proved Its right to that status, by receiving a majority against, the Government 011 a vital issue."

REQUEST FOR DISSOLUTION.

ANSWER TO BE GIVEN TO-DAY HY GOVERNOR. (RoceJvod August 13, 8.7 p. 111.) MELTIOIJRE, August 18. After meeting the Cabinet Mr Watson waited on Lord Northrofe to ask for a, dissolution. Lord Nortlicote requested time to consider his answer, awl will see Mr Watson again 011 Monday.