January, 1913. 



history of the Month. 



XV. 



on the whole of the steam costs. In the rolling stock 

 branch reductions in cost are promised co-incident 

 with an increase of speed of 31 per cent. It is the 

 general impression that the estimated expenditure of 

 ^3,991,000 under the 191 7 scheme will be required 

 when the suburban railways are carrying 150,000,000 

 passengers per annum, but Mr. Merz has assured the 

 committee that that sum will' provide a traffic up to 

 250,000,000 per annum, and what is of more imme- 

 diate importance, Mr. Merz states that the estimated 

 capital cost, ^3,004,000, for the 1915 scheme, plus 

 -2^15-500, will provide for a traffic of 156,000,000 

 passengers, and that the only increase in the work- 

 ing cost involved will be ^10,000 per annam. Fur- 

 ther, that until the traffic approaches 156,000,000 

 per annum, no additional expenditure need be in- 

 curred for the 19 1 7 scheme. 



A^Matter of 

 Conscience. 



The resignation of Mr. E. H. 

 Macartney from the Queensland 

 State Ministry is not to be inter- 

 preted as indicating any serious dis- 

 ruption in the Cabinet or the Government ranks. The 

 reason for his resignation began and ended with a 

 difference of opinion, a matter of conscience between 

 Mr. Macartney and his colleagues over the Police 

 Amendment Act. After the experience of the late 

 strike in Brisbane, in which the Police Department 

 was called upon to play an effective and drastic part. 

 it was considered wise to amend the Police Act. Mr. 

 Macartney says there had been friction between the 

 Home Secretary and the Commissioner of police. 

 added to which irritation was the manifestation ot 

 a strong desire to more closely subordinate the Com- 

 missioner to the control and direction of the Home 

 Department. Consideration of the details of the 

 Amending Act, and along with the whole history of 

 the matter, forced him to the conclusion that he could 

 not coiLScientiously remain in the Cabinet. On the 

 question at issue public sympathy will generally go 

 with Mr. Macartnev. If there is one department of 

 State more than another which should be outside 

 the influence of politics, surely it is the Police De- 

 partment. In a difficult situation such as was pre- 

 cipitated by the Brisbane Tramway Strike, where 

 (X)litical feeling ran high, and members of Parlia- 

 ment on both sides were acti\ely involved, the head 

 of the Police Department has an unenviable part to 

 play. Strong measures are called for, and a strong 

 hand to direct them. These can only be guaran- 

 teed where absolute control is a.ssured. Political in- 

 fluence has marred many a deparlmeiu, and para- 

 lysed many a capable administrator. The department 



The Burden 

 of Empire. 



]'}ioto. iesla," studios, S.vdney. 



ALDERMAN A. A. COCKS. 



Ix>rd Mayor-elect of Sydney. 



which is responsible for the maintenance of law and 

 order in the State should least of all be exposed to 

 such interference. Mr. Tolmie, Minister for Agri- 

 culture, succeeds Mr. Macartney as Secretary for 

 Lands, and Mr. John White becomes Minister for 

 Agriculture. 



The New Zealand Minister of De- 

 fence (Mr. James Allen) is proceed- 

 ing to England to consult with the 

 Imjjerial authorities on matters of 

 Imperial defence, and the part New Zealand is pre- 

 pared to play. Mr. Allen was not inclined to dis- 

 close the plans of his Government before leaving, but 

 it is evident from his speech at a farewell banquet 

 tendered him in Wellington that New Zealand is 

 likely soon to mo\e into line with Australia and 

 Canada, and share the responsibilities of Empire in 

 a naval as well as military sense. Mr. Allen admitted 

 that New Zealand would not be doing its duty until 

 it had given not onlv ships, but men to man those 

 ships. He urged the necessity of organising out of 

 the territorials an expeilitionary force of eight or ten 

 thousand men. which would be available for iii-stant 

 assistance to the Motherland wherever required. He 

 paid a tribute to the sacrifice which Australia is mak- 

 ing in fulfilling more than its part of the programme 

 laid down by the Imjx^rial Conference of igoq, and 

 recognised that in carrying out that programme Aus- 

 tralia will he promoting the ideal of an Imi^erial 



