New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA.

Australia is in trouble That country has
long been favOrite scene Of social and political
experiments, some Of which have had benefcent
results The Australian ballot, for example,
has been widely adopted elsewhere. and the
Australian system Of registration Of land titles
promises 10 be similarly acceptable. Now, 1t is
fine thing for other countries thus to have such
laboratory for experiments. But It is not al
ways a good thing for the country which plays
the latter part; for some OF the experiments
are pretty sure TO have uncomfortable If not
actually disastrous results It is an embar-
RAISING and somewhat ominous result that has
come upon the Commonwealth from one OF the
latest, experiments in social politics 1t has
precipitated ministerial crisis, and threatens
10 plunge the civil administration into chaos
When the Commonwealth Congress met this
spring il Lad before it three major issues One
was the Cancellation blll providing for arbitra-
ton Of labor disputes; one was a Navigation
bin. and the third was the question Of trans
ferring 10 the Commonwealth the debts Of the
individual States. 1t was recognized that any
one Of these might cause crisis. 1t is the first
named Of them that has done So The Concilia-
ton bin provided FOR a very liberal measure Of
arbitration between employers and employees.
and the government wGs ready 10 pass it, as a
radical experiment. But the three dozen labor
members holding the balance Of power between
government and opposition were not satisfied
with & They insisted that its terms should be
extended 10 provide for arbitration be-
tween the government itself and its own civil
servants. That proposition the government
would not accept. But The labor men and Oppo-
sition combined and carried the amendment,
whereupOn the government resigned
Now. IL the Opposition and labor coalition as
sumes the responsibility Of its act, It viii take
Office and enact the bin as amended That will
mean that the state IS 40 longer to have author
fly over its civil service. Not only the employees
OF the state railroads and telegrapls may 20 on
strike, or demand arbitration between them
selves and the government but the postmasters.
and police, and all others in government ser
vice may do the same. The government viii
therefore no longer be supreme 1t will have
10 submit to the superior authority OF some
other body, which viii not lie In the least re
gl1onsIble for the welfare OF the state. II the
Commissioner OF Police ISSUES an order 20 the
force 10 turn out ard suppress a riot, the men
may cecllne 20 recognize his authority, and in
eigt upon submitting 10 arbitration the question
whether they shall obey him or not. If a great
confederation occurs, the firemen may decline TO
exfinguisb Il until a tribunal OF arbitration de-
te-Tnines whether they are receiving sufficient
pay. or whether they are 10 be required TO use
engines manufactured by nOn-unionist shop.
Indeed, Il is an interesting experiment that is
being made IN the great Commonwealth Of the
South Seas. We shall not be surprised IL *
proves OF profit, ms an object lesson, 10 some
other lands. But we are afraid II viii prove
troublesome 10 the land IN which It is made.
For some years Australia has been suffering
from emigration Of the better classes of her in
oustrialists. IRON slow increase Of population