THE PLIGHT OF DARWIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1922, Page 5

THE PLIGHT OF DARWIN.

A HOUSE DIVIDED. TYRANNY OF EXTREMISTS. Tlie Administrator of the Northern Territory (Mr. Urquhart), in his report to Parliament for the year ended June, 1921, stated that he found the public service permeated by doctrines of extremist unionism enforced by subtle and tyrannical devices. The pernicious practice of coming direct to the Administrator with files without reference to the heads of departments was giving rise to confusion. He had taken . such action that these conditions had ceased to prevail. Socially the Darwin community was as a house divided against itself On the one hand were extremists, who talked of Soviets and kindred nonsense; on the other were the few who struggled and protested against the blatant and. shameless tyranny exercised by extremists. Thus the house of Darwin and the Northern Territory’s prosperity fell upon evil days. Production stopped, industry ceased, shipping disappeared, no capital came into the territory, and unemployment immediately presented an ugly problem.

The extremist leaders, it is added, had created popular discontent. He had seen and heard enough to lead him to the opinion that this propaganda was subversive of all that was best in Australian life. One grievance might 'be considered as genuine, and that was taxation without parliamentary representation.