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| July-August 1904 National News |
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| July-August 1904 National News |
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| All items for this
edition of National News are taken from The Age, July-August, 1904. A red hatch (#) at the top of an item means that the item contains an answer to a crossword puzzle clue. Clicking on the items in the list below will "jump" you to the first relevant news report further down this page. * Formation of the new Australian army * Building the transcontinental railway * White Australia: Illegal immigrant case * Queensland Kanakas petition Governor-General * Steamship wrecked off NSW coast — all feared drowned * Decisions on where Australia's new capital city will be * Baldwin Spencer and the Aborigines of Northern Australia * "Breaker" Morant aftermath — Witton freed from jail * Opium smuggling at Darwin * Watson Labor Government defeated — Reid P.M. * National Women's League holds first public meeting The following is shortened. Most of what is omitted relates to expenditure and finances. # # # THE COMMONWEALTH ARMY. GENERAL HUTTON’S ANNUAL REPORT. SERIOUS CONDITION OF WARLIKE STORES. REMARKS ON AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS. The second annual report on the condition of the Commonwealth military forces by Major-General Sir Edward Hutton, G.O.C., was laid before Parliament yesterday. It is a comprehensive document, frank and unreserved in tone and packed with new information concerning an often neglected sphere of public life. General Hutton opens with a characteristic tribute to the labors of his headquarters staff, the reduction in the number on which he not unnaturally regrets as hampering his efforts. He complains that no G.O.C. can accept the "vast responsibilities of command unless he is granted the assistance of a suitable staff." If the staff is reduced, he says, it is "only a question of time for chaos and disintegration to replace military order and system which is now being gradually introduced." Then the general narrates in some detail what has been done to reduce the military systems of six States to one system. The new organisation provides, he shows: (1) A permanent cadre force for certain important military, administrative, technical and instructional purposes; (2) A field force for inter-State or Commonwealth defence; (3) garrison troops primarily for local or State defence. The changes, he grimly remarks, have been "revolutionary"… In the course of a friendly but inadequate reference to the rifle clubs later in the report, he expresses the hope that at an early date it may be possible to enrol qualified rifle club members "as an organised reserve, so as to complete the ranks of the peace establishments of the existing military units to the war establishments required upon a national emergency." The serious condition of the stores and equipment are again the subject of comment. General Hutton writes: "It is with feelings of the gravest apprehension that I again invite attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the warlike stores. The previous representations on this subject require but little modification in the present report from those made by me in the official documents above mentioned, excepting in the items ‘fixed defences,’ ‘small arms’ and ‘small arm ammunition.’"… The general regrets that no action has been taken in regard to his Commonwealth arsenal and small arms ammunition factory schemes, by which there would be created "those manufacturing departments which are indispensable to the defence system of the Commonwealth and for rendering it independent of overseas supplies." He gives a formidable catalogue of other departments, which he wants to create to provide a system of transport, a complete veterinary branch, &c — not to mention a Chaplain’s department and a military college… (Age, July 1, 1904) The following is shortened. It omits long diary entries quoted from Sir John Forrest’s 1870 diary about the inhospitability of the land between South Australia and Western Australia, and estimates of finances. # # # # THE DESERT RAILWAY. COUNTRY TO BE TRAVERSED. BY GEOGRAPHER. There are no pages in the history of Australian exploration of more striking interest than those which tell of the terrible sufferings and hardships overcome by the gallant men who have penetrated that part of the Australian desert which takes in the route of the proposed transcontinental railway. As is frequently observed in the Federal Parliament by Western Australian members, the greater part of this territory still remains unexplored. The trials of the daring spirits who strove to "outlive the crimson days and dull dead nights of thirst" upon these shifting sand hills, barren limestone plains and wastes of scrub have served as solemn warnings against the terrors of the Western "Never Never." Since the perilous journeys of the early explorers, it is true, an exploring party has been enabled to occasionally cross from South Australia to the Western ports, but it has only done so by encountering great privations and by keeping to a route lying mainly along the sea coast. Inland — on some of the country which is to supply the traffic to the Western Australian railway — no white man has dared as yet to plant his foot. The first intrepid explorer to face this inhospitable territory was Edward John Eyre… Many years afterwards, with a much better equipped party, Sir John Forrest made the journey from Esperance eastward to Adelaide. The exploit was a singularly daring one… The route traversed by Eyre and Sir John Forrest is practically that which is now recommended for the transcontinental railway — a line which, it is proposed, shall traverse the dreary uninhabitable desert for 1100 miles, inland about 50 miles from Eucla… The best that Sir John Forrest could say of the best patch that he encountered was that it was "good grazing land without water." The engineers in chief of the State Railway departments furnished two reports to the Federal Parliament in July last. These officials went as far as Eucla, interviewed several people who are interested in pushing the project forward, and then went round by sea to have a look at the Kalgoorlie mines. They did not traverse a foot of the desert, and know nothing whatever about it excepting what interested people have told them… Very naturally, the question as to whether 1100 miles of railway, costing millions, should be run through a desert in which those making the line may perish from thirst while at work, and in which also the locomotives may be stranded through their boilers running dry, is regarded as "very important." The chief grounds urged by the engineers for the consideration of the work appear to be the understanding that there may be a "saving of two days in the delivery of the mails between east and west," the somewhat hollow belief that in ten years the population of Western Australia may be doubled, and the fear that in the event of the British navy being swept off the seas there will be no means of carrying arms, ammunition and men through the Australian desert… In noting the fact that the Watson Government has been dragooned by Western Australia into supporting this insane scheme, it is interesting to recall the first speech made in the Federal Parliament by a leading member of the Cabinet — Mr. Hughes. That Minister then said: "Unless the report of the experts contains a revelation, I don’t think I shall vote for the project. I don’t see how this infant Commonwealth can saddle itself with a debt of £5 million sterling for no other purpose than to allow Western Australia to have railway communication with the eastern States — perhaps to shorten the mail service by three or four days." … Still Mr. Hughes — so strange are the mutations of politics — has now got his shoulder to the wheel, and is endeavoring to push on the desert railway with all the force and skill at his command. (Age, July 1, 1904) # THE DESERT RAILWAY. REMARKS BY GENERAL HUTTON. Since Sir John Forrest failed to "rope in" Major-General Sir Edward Hutton as an advocate of his great boom project, the transcontinental railway, the G.O.C. has made no secret of his views on this expensive fad. In his annual report on the military forces just issued, General Hutton writes as follows: "It may be as well to state at once that a force of the requisite strength organised and capable of taking the field does not at present exist in Australia and that there are at present no local means of equipping such a force. The organisation is incomplete; the departments necessary for a mobile army have yet to be created; and there are neither sufficient guns, arms, equipment nor ammunition available. It will, therefore, be seen that the construction of a transcontinental railway would, under existing circumstances, confer no satisfactory advantage upon Australia in its present condition of military unpreparedness. The most that could be expected from the military situation at present existing would be the concentration of a certain number of armed men, who, without adequate administrative departments, or the required equipment, would be quite incapable of coping with even an inferior number of an invader’s troops, carefully trained, organised, and equipped with the latest modern appliances, as they unquestionably would be." (Age, July 2, 1904) The following letter by Sir John Forrest, written partly in response to the above report by "Geographer", is shortened. # # THE DESERT RAILWAY SCHEME. TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE. Sir, It is but right that all that can be properly urged by those opposed to the proposed railway to connect Western Australia with the rest of the Commonwealth should be made known. I have no right, and certainly no desire, to ask my fellow Australians to embark upon any enterprise that will not stand the light of criticism, on which would be likely to end in failure. While I freely admit this, I am bound to say, Sir, that in my opinion the hostility and criticism which "The Age" has given to this railway in its leading articles of 28th March and 13th June, and its constant references to it as the "Desert Railway" and as a "wild and extravagant scheme," altogether ignoring the opinions of those who have reported upon it, makes it quite clear to me that the subject is not receiving either reasonable or generous treatment… In "The Age" of 2nd inst. a contributor styling himself "Geographer" enters the field, evidently with the intention of damaging the project, and seeks to do so by quoting from the journal of my exploring expedition from Perth to Adelaide in 1870. I regret to say, Sir, that "Geographer" has so well carried out his desire that he has only quoted those portions of my journal that help his case, and omits everything on the other side. No fair-minded critic should do this… The report of Mr. Muir, the engineer who traversed the route, confirms my own opinion, based on personal observation, in every particular. But, Sir, I have never urged the construction of this railway on account of the traffic it would secure en route. My contention has always been that the railway is necessary in order to make Federation a reality — to give cheap and rapid means of communication — and in order to fulfil the obligation of the Commonwealth under the constitution to defend each State from invasion. But why this hostility to Western Australia? Victorians will, I am sure, willingly acknowledge that the West has been a good friend to many of them. I remember during my Premiership that from 1896 to 1900 more than £3 million was sent from the West through the post office by the workers to their families in the eastern States… I remember that during these same five years the trade with the West amounted to £25 million… These facts must not be forgotten in considering this question, nor the fact that 50,000 people annually travel to and fro by sea between Eastern and Western Australia… I have no desire to be associated with failure — I have to a large extent been associated with success, and would certainly not advocate this railway if I did not believe that it was a necessary work in the interests of federated Australia. It would be foolish indeed for me to do so. Those who oppose the railway must fail in their efforts, as the real federation of East and West is impossible without it. Yours, &c., JOHN FORREST. Grand Hotel, 2nd July. (Age, July 4, 1904) # # AN ALIEN IMMIGRANT CASE. PERTH, Tuesday. Andrew Mills, captain of the steamer Paroo, was charged at Fremantle this morning with having allowed, in May last, one Ah Kwan, a prohibited immigrant, to enter the Commonwealth. Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Solomon, for the prosecution, asked for a heavy penalty, as it was the third time Captain Mills had been charged with a similar offence. Captain Mills said every endeavor was made to keep the Chinese on board the ship. Watchmen were employed day and night, and every precaution was taken. The bench remarked that the maximum penalty was £100, and fined Captain Mills £20 and costs. (Age, July 6, 1904) The following is shortened. # # GOVERNOR-GENERAL ON TOUR. PETITION FROM QUEENSLAND KANAKAS. ROCKHAMPTON, Thursday. Lord and Lady Northcote arrived this morning from Brisbane, and were welcomed by the mayor and mayoress. The Governor-General was presented with an address from the citizens, and also with an address from the kanakas of the district, asking for his assistance in securing some amendment in the legislation providing for the deportation of kanakas at the end of next year. His Excellency replied that the claims of all British subjects, irrespective of creed or color, would always have his best consideration. He could not grant their request, but he would see that their address was laid before the proper authorities. (Age, July 8, 1904) The following is shortened. We present the first paragraph; the headline is fairly self-explanatory for the rest. # # # THE MISSING STEAMER NEMESIS. GRAVEST FEARS ENTERTAINED. VESSEL BELIEVED TO HAVE FOUNDERED. MORE WRECKAGE WASHED ASHORE. SOME OF IT IDENTIFIED. A CREW OF 32 PERSONS. NO TRACE OF THEM DISCOVERED. We greatly regret to say it is now practically certain that the name of the steamer Nemesis must be added to the list of vessels that have foundered on the Australian coast with all hands. In "The Age" yesterday particulars were published regarding the discovery of a quantity of wreckage on Cronulla beach, not far from Sydney; and the fears then expressed that disaster had overtaken the Nemesis have been confirmed almost beyond the shadow of a doubt. Laden with a heavy cargo of coal from Newcastle, the unfortunate vessel encountered the full force of the terrific storm which raged along the coast on Saturday and Sunday. What happened can at present only be conjectured. The Nemesis was a slow boat, and when the Marloo passed her off Wollongong on Saturday afternoon she was making but little headway against the gathering storm. Amongst seafaring men the prevailing belief is that, with night approaching and the gale increasing in intensity, Captain Lusher attempted to run back for safety. It is not difficult to imagine the perilous condition of such a comparatively small vessel as the Nemesis when an ocean giant like the mail steamer Mongolia was almost overwhelmed by the mountainous seas… (Age, July 13, 1904) Chronicle note: further reports of wrecked ships, collisions, fires and drownings at sea, followed on July 16th. # THE BUSH CAPITAL. WHERE IS THE MONEY TO COME FROM? The Watson Government is said to have a more or less complete policy now mapped out with reference to the Federal capital financing. The Government intends, if it should be in power next session, to introduce its banking law, by which a certain portion of the gold reserves of the banks will be at its disposal for such works as the building of the capital and of the purchase of the alienated land. If this law is rejected, then the Government will be prepared to ask Parliament to sanction a loan for the purchase of the alienated land within the selected area. No loan for the erection of buildings will be sought; these latter will have to be constructed out of revenue. The Federal Treasurer thinks, however, that borrowed money will be required to acquire the land. (Age, July 23, 1904) The following reference to "picnic" is intended to be ironic, and may be compared to the modern term, "junket" — The Age was rather critical of the need for a "bush" capital. Being a Melbourne-based newspaper it favoured Melbourne to continue as the national capital, while, of course, newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald favoured Sydney, capital of the "premier", or senior, State. # # FEDERAL CAPITAL PICNIC PARTY. CORRYONG, Monday. Sir William Lyne’s Federal capital site inspection party arrived at Jingellic on Friday night, and were driven over the site on Saturday. They stayed at Tooma that night, viewed the site again on Sunday morning, and travelled up the Murray to Brigenbrong, where they crossed the river to the Victorian side and stayed the night at Corryong. The party left this morning for Jingellic, and will go on by train tomorrow. Heavy rain set in last night and still continues. Previously, however, the weather was excellent, and the site was seen at its best. Messrs. Smith, Fowler, Carpenter, Brown, O’Malley and Fraser did not cross the river, and will return to Germanton from Tooma. ALBURY, Monday. The mayor having applied to the Prime Minister asking that the party of Parliamentarians visiting the Upper Murray in search of a site for the Federal capital should be requested to inspect Tabletop site, has received a reply from Mr. Watson to the effect that the proposal is impracticable. CAPITAL AREA QUESTION. SYDNEY, Monday. At a meeting of the executive committee of the Australasian Federation League today resolutions were carried protesting against the excessive area proposed to be taken from New South Wales for the site of the Federal capital under the provisions of the Seat of Government Bill. "The proposal," the resolution adds, "is contrary to the letter and spirit of the union contract, as understood by the electors voting at the referendum for the Amended Constitution Bill." (Age, July 26, 1904) The following is a book review, and is shortened. # # AUSTRALIAN ANTHROPOLOGY. "The Northern Tribes of Central Australia," by Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Biology, Melbourne University, and F.J. Gillen, S.M., and Sub-protector of Aborigines, South Australia (Macmillan and Co. Ltd., London). The keen interest excited five years ago among anthropologists by the publication of Professor Spencer’s "Native Tribes of Central Australia" will not be in the least abated, but rather stimulated, by the highly interesting, comprehensively designed and conscientiously executed work with which he and his co-worker, Mr. Gillen, have followed it up. It will be remembered that the previous work… created a scientific demand for further investigation on a previously untouched field of aboriginal anthropology. In response to this demand, another expedition… was undertaken. The detailed results of this expedition, the work of which commenced at Alice Springs, and was prosecuted through the north of Central Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria, now appear in the volume under review, and do equal credit to the indefatigable zeal, close research and exceptional qualifications of the authors. Readers of "The Age" will remember the progress of the little expedition, as telegraphically reported in its columns, and more especially the interesting articles in which Professor Spencer outlined the main features of its discoveries. The present volume, however, is not an expeditionary narrative; it does not deal with personal adventures or experiences, except where mention of such is essential. It is not a popularly designed book of travel, but a work of scientific research, which should… take rank as a standard authority on the anthropology of a race which has been scientifically ignored until it has almost reached the point at which the ascertaining of its origin, traditional history, creeds, myths and codes becomes impossible… (Age, August 6, 1904) The aftermath of the "Breaker" Morant story continues, in the following item. LIEUT. WITTON’S RELEASE. LONDON, 12th August. Ex-Lieutenant Witton, of the Bushveldt Carbineers, whose sentence of imprisonment for life for complicity in the execution of Boer prisoners without trial has been remitted by the Crown, was released, and left Portland prison, where he had been confined, on Thursday. Great satisfaction at Lieutenant Witton’s release is expressed in Natal, the Parliament of which supported the local petition in his favor. [Mr. E.W. Witton, of Collins Street (Melbourne), brother of Lieutenant Witton, yesterday received from him the following cablegram, dated Weymouth: "Free at last — Witton."] (Age, August 12, 1904) The following is shortened. Note that Port Darwin is today known as Darwin. OPIUM AND ABORIGINALS. MALAY PEARL DIVERS AT PORT DARWIN. The statement has recently been made to Mr. Fisher, Minister for Trade and Customs, that opium is used illegally to a great extent in Queensland by the aborigines, and that such use is causing a great deal of immorality and deterioration to the aboriginal inhabitants, especially in the north. There are local State acts in force in Queensland dealing with the sale of opium, but it is asserted that these are not properly administered, and that consequently natives are enabled to obtain opium in a manner which should not be allowed. Some weeks back, Mr. Lockyer, New South Wales Collector of Customs, was directed to proceed to Port Darwin on departmental business, and among other things was requested to report on this subject. Mr. Lockyer states that information was given to him that the natives of that district were supplied with spirits and an impure form of opium. This was contradicted by other persons of experience, who considered that whilst the statement was probably true some years ago, the present duties acted as a deterrent. Mr. Lockyer adds, however, that in his opinion and from the general evidence the fact seems to be established. The natives are a considerable assistance to the Malays, and it is only natural to suppose that the payment for services rendered should take the form most acceptable to them. It seems that the aborigines have a great liking for the use of this drug. Mr. Lockyer adds that he has pointed out to the Department of External Affairs that the most serious feature in connection with this matter is the practically unrestricted intercourse of the Malays with the natives, rendering very possible the introduction of infectious and contagious diseases. The former are a low type, and have undoubtedly introduced malarial and other diseases among the natives In regard to the use of opium, Mr. Lockyer writes: … There is no doubt in my mind as to there being a quantity of opium smuggled in at this port, and it would be very extraordinary were it not so, since an absolute supervision would be exceedingly difficult. I do not blame the officials, who do their best, and it is no worse here than in any other port of the Commonwealth where large numbers of Chinese are congregated. The opium is so easily handled, and the ingenuity of the Chinese is so exceptional, that I doubt if a dozen additional officers were appointed whether they could effectually stop it. In addition to dealing with the opium problem, Mr. Lockyer reported to Mr. Fisher briefly on trepang fishing by the Malays on the Australian coast. "I have dealt," he says, "with this question in a report to the Secretary Department of External Affairs, and have suggested such restrictions as will prevent the further visits of these Malays…" It is estimated that in average years a proa [pearl fishing vessel] obtains 250 to 300 piculs of trepang averaging a value of £2/10 per picul, but this has never appeared in the export returns. In connection with this matter it is also stated that quantities of pearls are taken away from Australia which do not appear in the export returns. (Age, August 15, 1904) The following sequence of news items concerns the defeat of the Watson Federal Labor Government in August 1904. At the end of these items, the Electric Chronicle has added a special note which attempts to explain all the confusions of party splits and alliances that led to Mr. George Reid becoming the next Australian Prime Minister. # THE FEDERAL SITUATION. THE GOVERNMENT WINS BY ONE. THE CRISIS AGAIN DEFERRED. By the narrow majority of one vote the Federal Labor Government escaped last evening the second serious risk of defeat on a vital issue connected with the Arbitration Bill. Through the votes of Mr. Groom, Sir Langdon, Bonython, Mr. Hume Cook, Sir William Lyne, Mr. Isaacs, Mr. Mauger and Mr. Storrer the Government secured the passage of an amendment which modified Mr. McCay’s proposal to deprive unions registered under the Arbitration Bill of their political complexion. In the opinion of members, however, this success can only have a temporary life, and before many weeks have gone by the pressure of the Opposition will have become so strong and patience of the extreme Laborites so attenuated that a condition of crisis will once more supervene. When it does, and the Government, being defeated, asks for a dissolution, the general view on both sides of the House is that the Governor-General will be bound to refuse the request on the ground that defeat on a clause of the bill does not create a cause of appeal to the people. (Age, July 7, 1904) The following is shortened. These events took place on a Friday, and were reported the next day, Saturday. THE FEDERAL CRISIS. WATSON GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. BY A MAJORITY OF TWO VOTES. WILL SEEK A DISSOLUTION. PROSPECTIVE LIBERAL-LABOR ALLIANCE. EXCITING DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. At 8.40 p.m. yesterday the Watson Commonwealth Government, which assumed office on 21st April, was defeated in the House of Representatives by 36 to 34 votes on what the Prime Minister had declared would be regarded as a vital issue connected with the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, after an exciting and stormy debate which lasted for three days. When the result of the division was announced, the Prime Minister at once adjourned the House to enable the Government to consider its position. The Cabinet will meet today at 11 a.m., and the Governor-General will arrive by the express from Sydney at midday. During the afternoon Mr. Watson will wait on his Excellency and ask for a dissolution. Lord Northcote will probably take till Monday to consider his decision. If a dissolution be granted the Ministry will meet Parliament on Wednesday, and the necessary formalities for ending the life of the Legislature will be proceeded with. If the Governor-General refuses a dissolution the Ministry will resign; Mr. Reid will be sent for, and a Coalition Ministry will be formed. The Labor Party has taken the first steps in the direction of a Liberal-Labor alliance… THE LEADERS INTERVIEWED. THE PRIME MINISTER. When seen immediately after the fatal division, the Prime Minister said: "My only regret in the circumstances is that we were not able to get into committee and have an opportunity of arguing the clause in the Arbitration Bill out in all its bearings. It seems to me, from the point of view of those members who are honestly desirous of passing an effective Arbitration Bill, that one might have expected from them an anxiety to get into committee and to mould the best possible clause that could have been framed, with a view to securing an effective measure. There are, of course, a number of members amongst the majority who are honestly against compulsory arbitration, and one cannot blame men holding such views from taking any opportunity to kill the bill and the Government that is responsible for it." And as to the future, Mr. Watson? "We shall hold a Cabinet meeting tomorrow morning at eleven. In the afternoon I shall see the Governor-General. I am certainly going to seek an opportunity of getting the question placed before the electors. I cannot, of course, express any opinion as to whether I am likely to get the chance or not." INTERVIEW WITH MR. REID. PROSPECTS OF A DISSOLUTION. A COALITION GOVERNMENT. SINKING THE FISCAL QUESTION. When seen immediately after leaving the Chamber by a representative of "The Age," Mr. Reid said: " I think this division marks a line of cleavage which will dominate the politics of the immediate future. The crisis which brought into line men like Mr. Deakin and myself points to some great national emergency. It cannot be said that this is one of those old time combinations in order to secure the distinctions of office. It is notorious that Mr. Deakin’s one anxiety throughout the present crisis has been to avoid office. I think the public of Australia will give us credit for having in our minds some higher purpose. "The system of government under which we live has been outraged by this new form of caucus Government and caucus Executive. Then we have the network [of trade unionism — Chron. ed.] which surrounds the present Government in relation to despotic outside bodies, which are the masters of the Ministries, and all the time hold their political destinies in the hollow of their hands. All this has come to an end. "… If Mr. Watson is so ill-advised as to seek a dissolution, the matter will become one for the consideration of the Governor-General… I simply say, if the unexpected should happen, and the House should be dissolved, those who have voted with me can go to the people of Australia with a justified spirit of confidence…" (Age, August 13, 1904) The following is shortened. THE FEDERAL CRISIS. COALITION MINISTRY PROBABLE. MR. REID MAKES PREPARATIONS. FINAL DECISION TODAY. THE DISSOLUTION DEFERRED. The Federal political situation developed during Saturday and Sunday in a direction which renders it possible to announce that there is a strong probability that a coalition Ministry will be formed, headed by Mr. Reid, and that the prospective dissolution will be deferred until the first defeat on a vital principle of the new Ministry. Absolute certainty is not attainable until this afternoon, by which time the Governor-General will have given a formal answer to the present Prime Minister’s request for a dissolution, and a summons to attend at Government House may have reached Mr. G.H. Reid… (Age, August 15, 1904) # # # # # THE FEDERAL CRISIS. A DISSOLUTION REFUSED. RESIGNATION OF THE WATSON GOVERNMENT. MR. REID SENT FOR. A REID-TURNER COMBINATION. Mr. Watson waited on the Governor-General at Government House yesterday, and received intimation that his Excellency could not see his way to grant his request for a dissolution. Mr. Watson then tendered the resignation of his Cabinet, and it was accepted pending the appointment of successors. Mr. Reid, who had interviews with Mr. Deakin, Mr. Dugald Thomson and Mr. Sydney Smith during the morning, waited on the Governor-General at 3.30 p.m., and received his Excellency’s commission to form a new Ministry… MR. DEAKIN’S ROLE. Soon after 11 o’clock Mr Reid was closeted with Mr. Deakin for about half an hour. The two discussed the policy of the future Government as it is affected by the compact of May last, when the coalition negotiations were begun, and Mr. Reid is understood to have agreed to certain alterations designed to remove ambiguities of phraseology, though not affecting that compact as the foundation on which the new Ministry rests. Policy alone was discussed. No portfolio was offered to him, Mr. Deakin states, neither was his advice sought as to the composition of the Coalition Ministry. Now, as at earlier stages in "coalition history," Mr. Deakin’s position on the personal issue remained the same. He could not and would not take office or discuss with Mr. Reid the question of anybody else taking office… THE NEW OPPOSITION. THE TWO WINGS COMBINING. STATEMENT BY MR. WATSON. The new Opposition, composed of 25 Labor Party members and 11 strong-feeling protectionists, is preparing to organise itself as a vigorous fighting force in the House of Representatives… For the present Mr. Watson is leader only of the Labor wing of the Opposition… (Age, August 16, 1904) Special Chronicle note: readers may be confused about Australian Federal politics, 1904-style, after reading the news reports on the fall of the Watson Labor Government! Mr. Reid was the leader of the Free-trade party while Mr. Deakin had been leader of the Protectionist party, and the Prime Minister previous to Watson. However, when Labor took office in April 1904, Deakin went into Opposition, and Reid attempted to form a coalition with him to oust the Watson Government. Eventually a strange mixture of free-traders and protectionists gained enough votes in the House of Representatives to kill the Labor Government in August 1904. Deakin refused to have anything to do with forming a new Government, therefore the Governor-General asked Reid to form a Government — which he did. But many protectionists were not happy about serving under a free-trade Prime Minister, and immediately formed an Opposition coalition with the Labor Party. This meant there were two coalitions — one in Government and the other in Opposition! Deakin was not a member of that Opposition coalition; he remained, at least for the time being, a member of the Reid Government. All of this without an election being held! The following is a letter to the editor by an Australian citizen. # THE POLITICAL SITUATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE AGE. Sir, Believe me, though not much is being said down in our ranks, tens of thousands of us are keenly watching the recent degradation of political life. A child can see that the people are tricked. Mr. Deakin won at the polls promising the people an active protectionist policy of preferential trade. He has had his opportunity of carrying it out. He had the numbers. He failed. He has done worse. He has sold us to the free-trade enemy. I am one of the Protectionist Association. I know he had a hand in revising our manifesto. He fully adopted and endorsed this passage: "Great Britain’s greatest living statesman, Mr. Chamberlain, finding the ruin that free imports have brought to British industry, calls on the colonies for help in a policy of preferential trade. "Protectionists answer that call with a loyal and glad assent. Free-traders refuse to give the mother country any advantage over foreigners. "Protectionists unanimously accept Mr. Chamberlain’s call for preferential and reciprocal trade, with a loyal love to the Empire. "Free-traders would help the foreigners to ruin the Empire." He went to the country with it, and returned victorious. His action in bringing George Reid into power is to sell the people who trusted in him. In saving this, I speak for tens of thousands. Yours, &c., RANK AND FILE. 22nd August. (Age, August 23, 1904) The following is shortened. # WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE. FIRST PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION. "TO COMBAT SOCIALISM." SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER. The Masonic Hall was crowded to the fullest capacity last night when the Australian Women’s National League held its first public demonstration. Sir John Forrest was in the chair, and with him on the platform there were the Prime Minister (Mr. G.H. Reid), and Messrs. G. Fairbairn and R.G. McCutcheon, M’s.L.A. Sir John Forrest, who was received with applause, said the league had only been in existence about four months. It had, however, got well into working order, and was fastening itself upon the public. Their presence showed that the ladies were taking an active interest in the political welfare of this great Commonwealth, and were anxious to fulfill the great responsibilities that had come so suddenly upon them… He would refer to one thing which to him was the most unjust his mind had dwelt upon. That was that in the race of life, and the great necessity we all had to make a living, one man should have the preference over another man. (Applause.) The Prime Minister, who was received with loud applause, said he had some experience of women’s leagues in New South Wales, and he might be allowed to say that the great victory which his party achieved there was mainly due to the women voters. (Applause.) … His complaint against the Labor party might be put under several heads. In the first place it had appropriated a trade mark which belonged to everyone. Labor was the trade mark, not of the Labor Party, such as they saw it now, but it represented the whole community of Australia. (Applause.)… The term labor was one which belonged to every human being in Australia, rich or poor, who did some honest work, and the attempt to abrogate to a few individuals of not a class, but a part of a class, the whole national body of labor and industry, was a usurpation which could not impose upon the intelligence of the people of Australia… This attempt to create an industrial aristocracy of labor; surround it with special privileges, create a British court of justice for the purpose of enforcing those great privileges against the mass of workers in Australia, was an enterprise which Australian democracy would stop at, and which Australian democracy would, he believe, repudiate. (Applause.)… If their league was patronised by women of social distinction and position, it would be a ghastly and melancholy failure, and would be a hindrance instead of a help to democracy. (Applause.) The moment a woman was enrolled as a member of the league, no matter what her husband was, she should become the equal of the highest lady in the land. (Applause.) (Age, August 30, 1904) |
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