114 



The Review of /?ei/iews. 



Aui/usI 1. 1906. 



PhotoJ [Lafayette, Melbourne. 



MP. H. W. Maakin, Under-Treasurer, Vic. 



A recipient of the Imperial Service Order. 



Australia ran a lonely competitor at the end of the 

 list with 26 per cent. What a commentary this on 

 our magnificent system of adult representation. The 

 Federal Government might very well move in har- 

 mony with the Victorian Premier's intention. 



This brings up the question of pre- 

 Preferential ferential voting, so necessary, see- 

 Voting, ing that so many of the State and 

 Federal electorates are represented 

 bv men who represent a minoritv of the voters. It 

 is urged as a reason against this that it is somewhat 

 complicated, and that it would take the average 

 elector some time to understand the principle, see- 

 ing that so many mistakes are at present made bv 

 voters. But the method is very simple, and a sug- 

 gestion made by a friend the other dav would make 

 it still simpler and understood by everybody. It 

 was that the method of preference voting should 

 be taught in the schools. Seeing that everybody 

 passes through the schools, it is easy to see how 

 this proposal would do awav with every difficultv. 

 It is worth the consideration of the State and 

 Federal Parliaments, and its good sense is so ob- 

 vious that it needs no enlargement. Why should 

 not the future citizens of a countrj- be taught in 

 the schools huw to vote? 



Mr. Deakin and his Government 

 White Slave ''^^^ ^° ^^^'^ ^^^ credit of more 

 Traffic. "^^^^ °"^ moral reform, but they 



ha\'e done nothing better than their 

 decision to subscribe to the International White 

 Slave Traffic Agreement, which was signed in Paris 

 on May 18th, 1904, the principal object of which is 

 to prevent women and girls being enticed abroad 

 for purposes of prostiturion. Mr. Lvttelton asked 

 whether the Commonwealth would become a party 

 to the Convention, and expressed the hope that it 

 would fall into line, as it had the fullest sympathy 

 of the British Government. The matter was sub- 

 mitted to the States, and all agreed. Mr. Lyttelton 

 subsequentlv stated that in addition to Great Britain, 

 Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, France, Russia, 

 Xorwav, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria-Hungarj", 

 Brazil, Belgium and Portugal had ratified the 

 Convention. In each countrv there is a central 

 authority. The chief duties of the officer in Lon- 

 don will be: — (i) To collect information gener- 

 allv about the White Slave Traffic, and to corre- 

 spond direct with the authorities appointed in other 

 States; (2) to have a watch kept at railway sta- 

 tions and ports on persons engaged in. the traffic ; 

 (3) to communicate with the victims of the traffic, 

 to arrange for the repatriation of those who desire 

 to return to. their own country, and for placing them 

 in suitable homes pending repatriation ; (4) to keep 

 under observation agencies which offer women and 

 girls situations abroad. This gives an idea of the 

 duties devolving upon the responsible persons. Al- 

 though the term, " white slave traffic," is used, the 

 provisions of the asrreement apply to all women 

 without distinction of race or colour. Mr. Lvttelton 

 suggested that periodical reports upon the matter 

 be sent to the London officer, Mr. F. S. Bullock, 

 of New Scotland Yard. Mr. Deakin has advised 

 Mr. Lvttelton that the Chief Commissioners of 

 Police in the se\eral States will act as representa- 

 tives. It is cau.se for congratulation that the C^m- 

 monwealth has fallen into line. It is to be hoped, 

 however, that the matter will be a live one in the 

 hands of the Commissioners. If as much laxity 

 creeps into its administration as there is in the 

 general admini.«tr^tion of the Victorian Police Com- 

 m'ssioner, Mr. O C'>'l''P'han, the agreement will be 

 a dead letter in Victoria. 



One of the first things the Federal 

 tlinh Government should do is to appoint 



Commissioner, a High Commissioner. Every week 

 brings additional evidence of its 

 necessity. The rea.sons are so obvious that it is al- 

 most superfluous to mention them again. It is so ab- 

 surd to think that in London track can be kept of 

 the .\gents-General of separate States, when London 

 can onlv necessarilv regard Australia as a compact 

 whole. The questions of loans .ind debts, of immi- 



