THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1912. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10560, 16 February 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1912. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS

The defeat of the .Labour Government in South Australia is one of the most significant developments in colonial politics which have taken place for a considerable period. 'lt shows that the people are unwilling to place their destinies in the hands of class legislators for any lengthy period." Tho circumstance under which the election was held makes the rebuff to Labour the more complete. The Yerran Government had decided upon the Socialistic experiment of running State brick, coal and firewood yards, and with this object in view had placed a sum of £II,OOO on the Appropriation 'Bill. This Bill was rejected by the Upper House. The appeal to the country was ostensibly to define the powers of the "Lords," and the Government declared that it was engaged in a struggle to preserve "the liberties for which our forefathers bled and died." In view oi' the fact, however, that the Upper House in South Australia is elective, this declaration was somewhat far-fetched. The issue which was really tit stake was whether the State had the right to enter into competition with private enterprise. That the electors have decided by a large majority that the nationalization of tlie means of production is undesirable is distinctly ominous. This decision will have a marked influence upon the whole.trend of politics in the Commonwealth. The Labour Parity in New South Wales has sought to

show that the alarm created .by the Brisbane strike had an influence upon the result. This may, or may not be true. Assuming that it exercised the influence that New South Welshmen would argue, does it not emphasise the fact that the aggression of Socialism is being viewed with the greater distrust and apprehension ? The people of the Commonwealth, in a mood of resentfulness against the incapacity of the Liberal leaders, made the desperate experiment of installing the Labour Party in power. They have been .quick to realise that they have jumped from the frying-pan to the fire and are availing thcimselves of the' first opportunity of making amends. lEven in Now South 'Wales the Labour Party is holding office under sufferance, and the Commonwealth Government itself is declining. This is shown by the fact that the Boothby electorate of South Australia, which at the Federal elections returned a Labour candidate with a majority of 4240, rejected the nominee of the Labour Party at a by-election in November last (by a majority of 2628 votes. Thus does the pendulum of politics swing to and fro. The Labour Party will have a short but merry innings in the Commonwealth. It may not do much harm while it lasts. Indeed, file Federal Government has made several progressive and enterprising moves. The people as a whole, however, are not favourable to experimentalism. They have an example in New Zealand which should act as a warning. When this country, with all its "humane," and "progressive," and "advanced" legislation, finds itself unable to bear the strain, there is little wonder that sister States view the (position with timidity. After all, the people *of most countries prefer to work out their salvation on sane and sober lines rather than by way of daring experiment.