State Socialism 13 I 



result of their choice. The leaders of the Com- 

 monwealth Labour party, and its representatives 

 generally, are equal in ability, education, and 

 general grasp of political affairs to those with 

 whom they come politically in contact. 



What the party has accomplished, and hopes to 

 accomplish, can best be gathered by reference to 

 the programme put forward for the elections at 

 the end of 1903. The main planks of the plat- 

 form were: a White Australia, arbitration and 

 conciliation, old-age pensions, nationalisation of 

 monopolies, a citizen defence force, restriction of 

 public borrowing, and navigation laws. The first 

 of these objects had been gained by the passing 

 of laws during the term of the first Common- 

 wealth Parliament, by which coloured aliens are 

 excluded from Australia. The second and third 

 objects involve the application to the whole con- 

 tinent of principles enforced in some of the states, 

 though not in all. The fourth plank in the 

 Labour platform is capable of a very wide inter- 

 pretation. Among the other monopolies it is pro- 

 posed to place under State management may be 

 mentioned the sale of intoxicating liquor and to- 

 bacco. The Labourites also advocate State de- 

 velopment of the deposits of iron ore in Australia, 

 and the establishment of a State bank of issue, 

 and State life and fire insurance departments. 

 From the mining of iron by the State to the min- 

 ing of precious metals is an easy step, and the 

 advocates of private enterprise are able to see in 



