The Daily News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28. COMMONWEALTH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 287, 28 November 1908, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28. COMMONWEALTH POLITICS.

Hie position of Commonwealth parties j in the Federal Parliament gives opportunity for pretty strategy, and political strategists are not wanting in Australia. The roles of the late Go\ eminent and the Labor Party arc now reversed; a Labor Ministry sits in the seats of the impotent mighty, a:id a critical ex-' Government Party, giving "a general support,awaits events in order to decide if the Labor Ministry shall live or die. Individually, the Ministers deserve to live. Mr. Andrew Fisher, the Prime Minister, is unquestionably a fine fellow from any personal point of view, lie need not be called a better man tluu Mr. Wat-son, but the Australian critics look upon him as a stronger man, with a more virile character and a linncr intellectual grip. He owes his successes to his native intelligence and perseverance; and an early manhood spent in hard labor has given him a conswuarm fitted for the political battle, inevitably such a man—he is a native of Scotland, by the way—develops and

broadens; and a truer insight into the man will be afforded by conceiving liiiu, j not as an Australian Labor-Socialist, ' but as an advanced Scottish Radical. ] But every Australian Labor leader is set the task of guiding a whirlwind, a.id it is not yet proved that Mr. Fisher can keep its pace within the bounds Mat Australia will accept as safe, Mr. Fisher leads by permission of the Liberal caucus; he is chained to the planks of the Labor platform; he has to satisfy the keenest body of constituents in tlic world—the most critical, the most impatient of control, the least tolerant of words that arc not hacked hy deeds. The word ''Leader" does not accurately describe his position; he is really the "wheeler'' of the Labor team, hanging back in the shafts to prevent the impetuous leaders from bolting down hill. If the Labor Ministry can, it has to continue in office till the regular election tjirue arrives next year. That is the Ministry's true policy, even if it has to cease from urging Lahor legislation, and to be content to accept the bidding of the Deakin party, liven if the Ministry should only have but a brief life, it was policy to accept office, and place the party's name once more upon record, thus accustoming Australia to a speetucde which, a dozen years ago, would have seemed anarchial. ' If the Ministry can retain oifiee, and silence the alarm cry that Labor spells revufution, a great deal will have been gained by the Tarty, and it will have the political advantage of power during the election. It has been suggested that if Mr. Fisher cannot keep a majority m Parliament, he will ask the GovernorGeneral for dissolution, but there is little likelihood of such a request oenig granted. It is the Governor-General's constitutional duty to exhaust the panel of possihle Ministers before terminating Parliament; and the Opposition would be given the opportunity of showing its ability. Already, however, a coalition of the Opposition and parties is spoken of, and it is not unlikely that the possible retirement or Mr. Heid, to be followed by the retirement of Mr. Deakin, has teen planned to this end. The breach between Mr. Eeid and Mr. Deakin apparently could not be bridged, but with the leaders out of the way, the parties would probably coalesce more readily. No coalition, however, is to be anticipated during the life of the present Parliament, and in a new Parliament coalition will be rattier a merger of Liberal and Conservative forces against Labor.