The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1919. THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1919. THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS

■ In a recent comment on the result of the Australian and New I Zealand elections, tin- Sydney ■ Daily Telegraph stated 'that the feeling expressed by the electors in both countries was not so much confidence in a political leader as apprehensiveness for the future of the country, adding that in both countries the men who are interested, not marely in the question of sound government, but in the stability and progress of industry, have been found in the majority. This view represents fairly accurately the crux of the position, namely, whether Labor shall dictate or the people govern on sound sane lines. The Federal election conflict bore definite evidence of the influence of the recent European war, Mr. Hughes representing the National and Imperial interests, while Mr. Ryan led the Laborites, who claim that Australia should do as she likes within the Empire, except fight for her own or the Empire's interests beyond her shores, yet always to have the benefit of the Empire's protection. The record of this party during the war fully bears out this attitude by prevent ing Australia sending the necessary reinforcements, and insisting on obtaining peace by negotiation. The gulf between these was, however, far wider than the Imperial issue, for though the Ryan Labor Party proposed grave changes in Imperial relations, it also stood for wide nationalisation schemes and revolutionary changes in the Federal Constitution, whereby the present State divisions were to be broken up into a large number of local Government areas. The electors were brought face to face with solidarity on the one hand and disruption on the other, and to their credit they preferred the sanity of Mr. Hughes to the anarchy of Mr. Ryan. The final re- ( suits are at the time of writing not known, but the Nationalists have secured thirty-four seats ' against Labor's twenty-four, and 1 of the remaining seventeen seats l the Farmers' Party accounts for * 4.X, J

! eight, the remainder being doubtful. Unfortunately Mr. Hughes has not secured a working majority that would be independent of all the other parties combined, though he may be able to hold office with the aid of the Country Party, and it seems certain that he will have a majority in the Senate. The Nationalists include Liberals, Conservatives and Patriotic Labor, while the Opposition consists of Extreme Labor and Socialists of a pronounced type. It may reasonably be expected that the Country Party (tfi,e Farmers) will have nothing in comr mon with the Extremists, for its J main reasons for existence are to secure increased production, foster immigration and stem the flow • of the rural population to the cities—all of which are in the best interests of the country—but their attitude on defence and Imperial • matters may not coincide with the policy of the Nationalists, so that Mr. Hughes will necessarily have 1 to go warily if he desires to retain ■ offi.ce. A fair inference to be de--1 rived from the result of the elec- \ tions is that the majority of the people have endorsed Mr. Hughes' . policy during the war, but it is s evident that compulsory military training is still a burning question, : though it is possible to frame a [ scheme that.will be acceptable. It . has been stated that if Mr. Ryan's party had Avon the elections, the • memory of every dead Australian ' soldier would have been insulted, ! but it is preferable to centre satisfaction on the fact that the Exi tremists have been defeated and ; the Commonwealth saved, for the time being, at least, from disruption and chaos. It is a great country with an immense future 1 under sound development, and as an important unit of the Empire it is desirable Australia should be governed wisely and well so as to fit in with the general scheme, of Imperial unity and co-operation. Tn the negativing of the referen- ! Inm proposals as to the Government taking over monopolies and legislating in industrial and commercial directions, there is no need to dwell. They followed the - fate of previous referenda, none I of which was accepted, but the operation of preferential voting is naturally of interest to New Zealand electors. Mr. Hughes will have a difficult task to perform, and all advocates of law, order and progress will wish him success in his tenure of office.