The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1917. THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1917. THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

More than ordinary interest attaches t" the Parliamentary elections in Australia consequent on the attitude of the Political Labor League towards the war, and the closely balanced numerical strength of the two chief political parties. The result of the New South Wales elections) as far as can at present be gathered, is to eliminate all possibility of the extremists being able to control tho policy of the Administration. As the Sydney Herald very pertinently states: "Victory for the Nationalists is victory for a sane Government on wellordered progressive lines." Thai is exactly the sort of Government which the Commonwealth requires, not only at this particular and critical period, but during the coining era of peace which wo all hope is not very far distant. Government by caucus is a most pernicious and undesirable system,- so that the people of New South Wale 9 are to be congratulated on having got rid of that incubus, and placed their faith in sane, progressive men. The election in no way concerned the future of sensible democracy, but it greatly concerned the clip- , pmg of the powers of the extremists, '■vho proved themselves autocratic taskmasters. The many serious problems that;' will have to be faced and solved after the war more than ever need men of sound views and wide perspective, not machines bound down to carry out the dictates of wild extremists obsessed with the one compelling desire to crush all apposition to their will, irrespective of whether their platform is inimical to the best interests of the country or not. This is no time &r such men to hold sway. They have shown their hand, and the electors have wisely preferred to trust the destinies of the Shite to those who have its true welfare at heart. The Federal Premier, Mr. Hughes, did not mince matters when lie said that the Caucus Party had suffered a wholesome defeat, adding, thai it had been living in a fool's paradise since the referendum, but the light oi (lay had pierced the mists through which the party imagined there lay the promised land, only to find themselves hopelessly discredited as a party. It has been a severe fight, and the polling has been heavy, showing that the issue is of the greatest importance, but the outcome is eminently satisfactory, the Political Labor Party bcir/. , back to where it stood ten year .», The recent conscription splii °vidently opened the eyes of t! is of the electors to the i s ilc( l the ship of State. -"<= Nationalists have see ■■ tß ven or forty-nine seal '...rtv or thirty-three obf.— c^.ical

Laboritcs. With such a majority, the Government should he able to withstand all the tactics of the extremists and pass legislation that will materially •benefit the State, instead of its drifting into anarchy. In view of the wave of democracy that- is now extending its force to countries where autocracy has been deeply rooted for ages, it is above all things desirable that the will of the people should be based on moderation and not on extremes. It is therefore gratifying to find that the feeling in Australia is reflecting the serious condition of the world to-day by overthrowing the elements which are .productive of trouble and putting trust in sane administration of affairs of State. If the extremists see the result of the election in the right light, though they may be grievously disappointed, yet it should be a lesson they may well take to heart. It is the victory of law, order, and good government over the tyranny of the Caucus.