Vol. XXVIIl.. N... 



Al'RlL 20, 1906. 



The Rev 



EVIEWS 



'ASIA. 



EQVITABLH HVJr.lilNa, MBLBOVKIS'B. 



THE HISTORY OF THE MONTH. 



Mr. Deakin's 



Pre-Sessional 



Speeches. 



Melbourne, April 9, 1906. 

 The keenest interest awaited Mr. 

 Deakin's pre- sessional speech. It 

 was divided into two parts, one of 

 which was delivered at Ballarat, and 

 the other at Adelaide. They have generated some 

 mixed feelings. One cannot help feeling that the 

 exigencies of the hour demanded that he should not 

 live so much in tlw past, but mure for the future; 

 that he should speak more as a leader than an 

 onlooker. Indeed, one could almost wish that thev 

 had not been delivered. Previously, the present posi- 

 tion did seem to have some linality about it. Now 

 that seems to have gone, and a prospect of chaos 

 reigns. Mr. Deakin's best friends regret that he 

 dwelt upon the old controversy l«tween himself and 

 Mr. Reid. Both friends and enemies made up their 

 minds as to the respective merits of the dispute at 

 the time, and the country bec.nme so utterly sick of 

 it on account of its long continuance, especially by 

 the Opposition, that there is general sorrow at its 

 resurrection. Whatever may be the position of affairs 

 now, affairs of last year now matter not at all. The 

 position is precisely the same as far as Parties are 

 concerned, but the country was anxiously Iwking for 

 a definite statement of a strong determination to 

 carry a great policy into effect. Mr. Deakin's policy 

 theoretically is beyond cavil on general principles. 

 We cannot, of course, subscribe to all of his belief. 

 But, broadly speaking, it is satisfactory to progres- 

 sives. Mr. Deakin himself dwelt upon necessities, 

 but the anxiously-watching people desired to see the 

 path mapped out by which the necessities were to be 

 reached. It is not too much to say that a feeling 

 of intense regret was generated when it was found 

 that the addresses, which were, presumably, prac- 

 tically the speech of the Government, contained so 

 little likely to be transmuted into tangible good. 



One searches in vain for a definite. 

 What is declared intention to force his 



*''* pXcvT*"* P°''*'>' '^^^ '^"'>' 1"^'"^ ".P'*" '''''*^" 

 there is any real fixity is that of 



i high protection ; but if one can judge of the tem- 

 per of the House and the country, the fiscal issue 

 is not going to be raised surcessfully during the 



coming session. Probably if the general feeling 

 could be translated into words, it would be ex- 

 pressed somewhat in this way — that if some in- 

 dustries, likely to become great national ones, 

 needed a little assistance, the country would be 

 willing to grant it ; but there are more important 

 things waiting settlement, and it should not be the 

 only one alxuit which a definite settlement is made. 

 Our Customs taxes must be ; and everybody is willing 

 to correct some foolish anomalies ; but beyond that 

 there is no likelihood of much lieing done with re- 

 gard to fiscal matters. Mr. Deakin's utterances were 

 not quite strong enough in this respect to satisfy 

 some of the more ardent in the Protectionist ranks, 

 l)ut to all others it was quite evident that Mr. 

 Deakin's fiscal faith is as strong as ever. As far as 

 one can see, it is the only issue during the coming, 

 session that is likely to disturb the balance 

 of Parties, and if it were forced into the fore- 

 ground, no one can tell what might happen, and 

 for that reason it is likely to be cautiously avoided 

 by most of the ^Jembers. Apart from that, it 

 is almost certain that Parliament will jog through 

 a comparatively unimportant session to enter upon 

 the fierce struggle of the elections in December, un- 

 less Mr. Deakin endeavours to force some other pro- 

 minent matters into debate. 



There were some points upon which 

 Asking for Help ^ great nianv people would have 



u, '"n!''f,.i»« been glad to have had the proclama- 

 Wron, Direction ^.^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^.^^ .^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^^^-^^ . 



for instance, with regard to the Land Settlement 

 question and Old Age Pensions. It is quite true 

 that the co-operation of the States is to some extent 

 necessarv, inasmuch as they own the land, but a 

 bold, progressive policy on the part of the Federal 

 Prime Minister would compel the States to fall into 

 line. The people of the Commonwealth, it is evi- 

 dent, are not so particular about the composition of 

 political Parties as in the passing of measures. They 

 are growing broader every day with regard to the 

 consideration of questions on their merits. The day 

 when the genesis of any political idea was closely 

 examined before a Party decided upon its attitude 

 towards it is passing away, and whether a suggestion 

 comes from the Government, Opposition, or Labour 



