State Socialism 133 



turn of the political wheel gave the Labourites an 

 opportunity of assuming office. Mr. Watson, the 

 leader of the party, succeeded in forming a Minis- 

 try, and the world was afforded the spectacle of a 

 continent of three million square miles being gov- 

 erned by representatives of the working-classes. 

 After a few months' tenure of office, however, the 

 Labour Ministry had to face a combination of the 

 opposing parties, which was brought about by the 

 too Socialistic tendency of its proposed legislation. 

 The L,abour party was accordingly forced to 

 vacate the Government benches, but not before its 

 leaders had shown their possession of considerable 

 administrative firmness and ability. The Labour 

 party still remains the only political organisation 

 in Australia which possesses cohesion and a defi- 

 nite policy, and to this fact a large measure of its 

 success may be attributed. 



