Vol. XXIX., Xo. i. 



The Rev 



JULY I, 1906. 



EVIEWS 



EQUlTABT^Ii BVILUIKG, MBKBOURSE. 



THE HISTORY OF THE MONTH. 



Federal 

 Politics, 



Mexbourne, June 8th, 1906. 



The Federal ParUament has met. 

 It almost paled into insignificance 

 beside the triumph of the New Zea- 

 land Prime Minister. There is talk 

 of a good deal of work, but there are indications 

 that many members are feeling uneasy about their 

 electorates, and are itching to get away to nurse them. 

 One cannot be reasonably expected to give his sole, 

 enthusiastic and undivided attention to the affairs 

 of his countrv' when his own affairs are being atten- 

 tively and solicitously attended to by another fellow 

 who is doing all he can to undermine the member's 

 prestige in his electorate. His mind is elsewhere. 

 Consequently, although several important matters 

 are down for consideration, it is not likely that 

 a ven- great deal of work will be got through. It will 

 not be the Government's fault, but the best of 

 speakers cannot interest an audience when its mind 

 is els where. 



It is nothing more than a quiet state- 

 The Visit ^^^^^^ ^f f^^^ ^^ ^^y ^j^^j ^jj. g^^j. 



Mr. Seddon. don's visit to Australia has been the 

 event of the month. Other matters 

 have had to take second place. Before the brilliance 

 of his visit, the brightness of other stars temporarily 

 waned. Newspapers devoted columns to his 

 speeches and opinions, various bodies vied in their 

 endeavours to show hospitality, and Mr. Seddon will 

 have everv reason to feel flattered at his reception. 

 Many and various have been the expressions of 

 opinion in the New Zealand press, but there can be 

 no mistaking the fact that by her advanced legisla- 

 tion New Zealand has pushed herself to such a posi- 

 tion in the good opinions of the j)eople of Aus- 

 tralia, that the latter place simply cannot help 

 honouring the man who has piloted her destinies for 

 the last 13 years. Moreover it was a compliment 

 to the progressive colony. In honouring Mr. Sed- 

 don, New South Wales and Victoria have been pay- 

 ing their respects to the sister colony of which they 

 are proud. For are we not Australasians ? Mr. 

 Seddon certainly won golden opinions wherever he 

 went, whether it was to Williamstown where he 



formerly worked in the railway workshop, or to 

 Ballarat and Bendigo, which saw him in the early 

 days. The strong liberal and common-sense opin- 

 ions which he expressed regarding certain matters 

 which are allowed to go by default by Australian 

 fKsliticians were most refreshing. He very rightly 

 pointed out that most of our troubles could be re- 

 moved if we worked upon lines that had i>een proved 

 to be safe in New Zealand. No exception could be 

 taken to the broad lines of policy laid down by 

 Mr. Seddon, and if a fair amount of space is taken 

 up this month with reference to matters raised by 

 him, it is simply because he has brought a breath 

 of fresh Liberalism into the somewhat stagnant at- 

 mo.sphere of Australian politics, and he deserves 

 full credit for it. 



A visit of this kind has been as 



Friendly necessary as the friendly visits of 



Interchanges. British and French well-wishers to 



one another. It is another illustra- 

 tion of the correctness of the policy which " The 

 Review of Reviews " holds to be so important, the 

 necessity for friendly visits between, and the provid- 

 ing of the warmest hospitality by different nations. 

 A little Junketing may bring about centuries of peace 

 and avoid untold horrors of war. Of course that does 

 not even in the remotest way refer to Australia and 

 New Zealand. Such an idea is ridiculous. But the 

 principle holds good. Australia and New Zealand 

 have common interests, are next-door neighbours, but 

 they have made little more than a passing acquaint- 

 ance over the side fence. They might have been 

 separated by 6000 miles of sea instead of 1000 (a 

 distance less than that which separates some of the 

 Australian States from one another), so little have 

 the countries known of one another. Visitors from 

 one countrv to the other always retain kindly im- 

 pressions of hospitalitv, but Governments have held 

 aloof. Even in dailv news of the other neither coun- 

 trv' gets what it ought. We are practically the rulers 

 of these Southern seas, and \et have hardly made 

 one another's acquaintance. What could be accom- 

 plished with a little more intercourse has been re- 

 vealed bv Mr. Seddon's visit. 



