19073 Notes on Australia 



It depends too much on English tradition of two sorts, 

 reactionary aristocracy confronting radical irreverence. The 

 organization of Parliaments after the British model plays into 

 the hands of minority third parties. These groups by dicker 

 with the Liberals or Conservatives — which differ mainly in 

 name — are able to bring about class legislation regardless of 

 national interest. 



Capital is too scarce to accomplish all that ought to be done, 

 and too much dependence is placed on the government, which 

 many regard as a separate entity with unlimited funds at its 

 disposal: "No matter what it costs; Government pays for it." "Govern- 

 (The spirit behind this, however, is by no means peculiar to ment 

 Australia, being one of the fundamental evils besetting all ^''y-' 

 government.) 



Preoccupation with assumed foreign dangers permits political 

 abuses at home. To lay emphasis on such perils has been for 

 two hundred years a device of British governments to control 

 colonies. Democracy is successful only in proportion as it 

 minds its own business. This needs close attention, and austere 

 management of public trusts is not easily secured by popular 

 election. 



The educational system is not well coordinated, needless 

 obstacles separating the lower schools from the universities, 

 which receive state aid without adequate responsibility to the 

 citizens at large. 



I trust that in making these criticisms I shall not be 

 thought ungracious toward a people which has twice 

 treated me with great hospitality, and among whom 

 I have many warm friends. I am also not unmindful 

 of the fact that my own nation too often lapses from 

 its political and social ideals, as no Australian who 

 has visited the United States can fail to realize. 



3 



Upon my return from Adelaide to Sydney, I took wdUng- 

 passage across twelve hundred miles of sea to Welling- '"" 

 ton, the capital of New Zealand. The town is charm- 



n 231 3 



