124 Australian Life 



proportion to its population as Australia. The ad- 

 ministration of the vast areas of public lands, the 

 maintenance and working of thousands of miles 

 of public railroads, the education of the children, 

 and the policing of the country alone involve the 

 employment of many thousands of civil servants. 

 Each new function assumed by the State necessi- 

 tates the creation of a fresh department, and a 

 further addition to the vast army of the State- 

 employed. 



These people are united by common interests, 

 their position being defined by legislative enact- 

 ments which affect them all alike. When all 

 exercised the franchise, they were able to show 

 their resentment at measures of retrenchment 

 and economy in so marked a manner as to cause 

 political uneasiness, and in one state at least it has 

 been found necessary to restrict their political 

 representation to special members whom they may 

 appoint to represent their interests in Parliament. 



As the State is so large an employer of labour, 

 it is only natural that those seeking employment 

 should turn first to the State. Short hours, regu- 

 lar employment in a position which can only be 

 forfeited by misconduct, and a salary which an- 

 nually increases by a small sum, are strong in- 

 ducements to the father who wishes to place his 

 son in life. As a consequence, there is keen com- 

 petition for all Government positions, and the 

 interference of politicians was at one time so fre- 

 quent as to give rise to something like a scandal, 



