64. AUSTRALIA 
niade hold good only for some of them. One result of this 
condition of affairs is the existence of a large official class in 
the employment of the State. Public servants there are, of 
course, in every community, but it is doubtiul whether any 
country maintains so many to its population as Australia. 
The administration of the vast areas of public lands, the main- 
tenance and working of thousands of miles of public rail- 
roads, the education of the children, and the policing of the 
country alone involves the employment of many thousands 
of civiel srvants. Each additional function assumed by the 
State necessitates the creation of a new department and a 
further increase of the vast army of the State employed. 
As the State is so large an employer of labor, it is only 
natural that those seeking employment should first turn in 
that direction. Short hours, regular employment in a 
position which can be forfeited by misconduct only, and a 
salary which annually increases by a small sum, are strong 
inducements to a father who wishes 'o place his son in life. 
There is therefore keen competition for all government 
positions, and the interference of politicians was at one time 
so frequent that the public service became overmanned with 
nominees of various members of parliament. Public 
opinion at length became so strong against this practice 
that it was abolished, and the public service has been nom- 
inally at least removed beyond the sphere of political 
influence. But there is another class which demands and 
frequently obtains employment from the government. 
These are the mechanics and artisans of the cities, who may 
be thrown out of work owing to a temporary dullness in the 
trades in which they are customarily employed. These 
unemployed congregate upon some spare plot of ground, 
and listen to the speeches of men whose one cry is that it is 
the duty of the government to provide them with employ- 
ment. These meetings usually end in a march to the 
government offices, where the leading agitators demand an 
interview with the members of the ministry and the 
