The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1911. THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 67, 9 September 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1911. THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENT.

New Zealanders i tlirough their daily j papers are no-t accustomed to read the j records of achievements of Australian Parliaments. ]t may be generally presumed from the news received from "the other .side" that the Parliaments (and especially thait comic gathering in Sydney) occupy their valuable time and draw their heavy salaries in making an exhibition of themselves. The Speaker episode and the cheerful interlude in | which one gentleman poured a glass of water down the neck <if another, the allegation that .Mr. Wade is "uncouth," and all the rest of the precious "news" we are treated to make one fancy that the Mother State is generally engaged in , looking after itself and allows its paid vaudeville performers in Parliament to strut about their expensive "turn upon the stage of politics." It is, of course, necessary that Australian Parliaments shall attend to business sometimes, and it appears likely that the Statfl Parliaments generally conceive it unneees- < sary to perform constructive work when there exists ft Federal Parliament to 1 do it. It may be believed that the Federal Parliament, although openly anxious to add to class privileges (and its own) and to hit the hated "capitalist" where he lives, has yet a higher ideal of duty than cither of the other State Parliaments, including that absurd excrescence, the New South Wales Parliament. The Commonwealth is at least pledged to a progressive policy, which may, should party rancour not take precedence, help Australia, to attain her destiny, that of one of the greatest collections of states on earth, inhabited by people, progressive, healthy, wealthy and contented. Lord Dcnman's speech at the opening of the Federal Parliament was of the usual colorless, vice-regal pattern, retailing stale news, and patting the country oil the back. But it was useful !n reminding the people of Australasia that the Ocvernment is pledged to supply Australia with a transcontinental railway, the most important internal matter before the people of the Commonwealth. Quite apart from its defensive significance, the great railway will connect Port Darwin, "the gateway from the East," with the more southern and more settled areas. The line will traverse countless millions of' acres which, except, for a. few adventurers, have been trodden by no white man's foot. Jt will be a railway that has no party significance, like so many other railways in Australia, and this country, for it would immediately add vastly to the settlement of the great territory, and to the assets of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth certainly contemplated the great railway years ago in a vague way. but as it owes its military scheme to Lord Kitchener, so does it owe the revival of the idea of a great continental railway to him. Lord Kitchener spoke mere'/.' as a. soldier when he urgently advised Australia to link her back door with her homestead paddock, foreseeing (hat an eastern foe might enter the hack door without being seen, and settle down comfortably without the centres knowing anything about it. Xnl 1 lie least of the railway's benefits, therefore, will be its value strategically and defensively. Another important matter to be dealt, with, if there is time to spare from party warfare, is the Navigation Rill, which will bring under discussion the matter of colonial jurisdiction, so widely debated at the Imperial Conference. The Commonwealth Rank I'ill is a democratic measure that if carried will have a distinct influence on banking matters and pave the way for the entry of other countries into the business. One other matter concents us vitally. This is trade reciprocity between Australia and New .Zealand. There are those who can see no reason for a lesser reciprocity than absolute free trade between countries whose interests are common, and

many of whose products are alike. The' New Zealander pays heavily for the things ho needs daily, and a shortage here is a severe hardship, while the heavy tariff makes relief from Australia, which may have full supplies, impossible. The most important matter the Commonwealth Parliaments have to discuss, relative to their internal affairs, is the great railway. To New Zealand the most important matter to be discussed is trade reciprocity.