January", 1912. 



history of the Month. 



anything to give St;ite facilities for this particular 

 vice. The question of the totalisator in New South 

 Wales has been relegated to a Royal Commission, 

 which is to take evidence in New Zealand and the 

 States. It is a pleasure to reformers to know that 

 Mr. Albert Hruntiiell, of the New South Wales .As- 

 semlilv, is a nu-mlnr of the Commission. 



'I'litTc is universal regret that the 

 Xew South Wales Government has 



New South 

 Wales' Welc'ime • , , 



to Bruisers. not siuit the door upon the army of 

 |)rize- fighters that has set its eyes 

 upon New South Wales. A deputation representing 

 the Iwst thought of New South Wales deputatinn- 

 ised the Government, and pointed out that New 

 South Wales was likely to become the happv hunt 

 ing ground of tlie offscourings of other parts of 

 the world. But they were told that no action wouM 

 be taken beyond that which the police mav exerci.se 

 Mr. Norman I.indsav has satiri.sed the situation ad- 

 mirably in a cartoon which we publish, in which he 

 depicts a procession headed for New South Wales, 

 as a Mecca for devout wor.-ihippers of jiounding 

 and of brute strength. The jirocession is closed bv an 

 enormous ape, and the artist has brilliantly de- 

 picted a wonderful likeness between the repellant- 

 looking monster and the fighters. I'nless some of 

 the Governments bewaire, there will have to be ar 

 uprising similar to that of a few years ago, when 

 indignant States compelled GOTernments to legis- 

 late in the interests of morals. New South Wales is 

 bidding high for a very unenviable notoriety. 



Universal regret was felt at the 

 The late Sir death of Sir Jenkin Coles, the vetc- 

 Jenkln Coles, ^.m Speaker of the South Austra- 

 lian Hou.se of Assembly. Sir Jen- 

 kin w.is one of those men who are born to the posi 

 tion. .Affable and courteous, he won the esteem and 

 confidence of both sides of the House during his 

 long occupancy of the Chair. So faithful was he 

 in the discharge of his duties, that during his long 

 .service of twenty-one years, he never missed a sit- 

 ting, and was never late. For some months severe 

 illness has ])revented his ap|)earance in the House, 

 and at last he resigned, when he found the enil 

 approaching. It was a final proof of his regard 

 for tiie position, but one cannot help wishing that 

 he had not done it, and had retained the post till 

 his deatii. 



.\ Wise 

 Condition. 



Mr. Jiis'.ii-c Higgins took a fine 

 stand the other day in making an 

 award in connection with seamen. 

 He had announced a decision that 

 meant a vast impro\ cement in the conditions of work 

 of the men who go down to the sea in ships. But 

 he had l)efore him tin- fact that the wharf labourers 

 of Sydney had flouted an agreement, and the case 

 of .;. iTivM 'f .-I l«iii in West .Australi.i, who had 



The Late Sir Jenkin Coles. 

 Speaker of the South Ansti.ilion House of Assembly. 



disarranged a lime-table and hung up a steamer be- 

 cause they objected to the chief steward. He there- 

 fore rightlv held that he must have some guarantee 

 that the award would \ie loxally observed by 

 the men, and that the situation in the West 

 should lie ended. Everyone will uphold him in 

 such decisions, whether the direction be against em- 

 ployers or employees — everyone, that is, but those 

 who are willing to teat agreements to ribbons, and 

 let integrity go to the winds. The award provides 

 for eight houis' work on ships, which is as reason- 

 •ible a demand as eight hours' work on land. It is 

 understood that the union concerned in the West 

 .Australian case has penalised its members, who acted 

 in oppo-sition to the union's orders. If this kind of 

 thing be done, it will raise the status of the imions. 

 Moreover, it is only in this way that unions can 

 keep even the place they now occupy. Hitherto 

 member.? have looked on them as machines to get 

 for them all they want, but one that could not 

 hurt themselves. If unions throughout the Com- 

 monwealth took a firm .stand, and penalised irre- 

 sponsible strike-makers, they would gain in moral 

 forc<". One thing is certain — they will never gain 

 .self-respect until they recognise that moral law must 

 oiKTate a-mong themselves, and even against them- 

 selves, as among and against others, and until self- 

 respect comes they can only act selfishly and tyran- 

 nically. The correction is a hopeful sign. 



