The San Francisco call., 1904-07-21
Mr.. WATSON'S
GOVERNMENT
Is DEFEATED


hopes Of the opposition. led by ex-
Premier Deakin. A summary of the
debate and results was given by a Mel
bourne correspondent or the Sydney
Herald. June 25. partly as follows:
The sienifcsnce OF this defeat was not lost
On the Government because the Prime Minis
ter al once moved that progress be reported
IN order thar the Government might consider
how far 81 affects the general purpose OF the
measure. and how far Ministers should ask
members 10 reconsider the matter. Mr.. Reid
Who had made a elashing speech earlier in the
afternoon. az once rose, and said that IL was
very proper course for Ministers TO take
snd the motion 70 report progress was at once
agreed 10 To -shoy how significant that
division was q perusal OF the numbers &C
book shows that seYenty-one members out Of
scyerry-hve registered their views. The four
who were not represented were the Speaker and
tle chairman of committees, Mr.. Cook lwho is
lying il IN sydney and Bruce Smith. There
was thus not the slightest chance Of the Gov
eminent securing majority, and now It viii
be matter fOr speculation whether the meas
ure shall be dropped. whether members Will be
asked 70 reconsider their vote. or whether Min
listers wiz communicate with the Governor
General
The Prime Minister was seen Immediately
lle House rose, and simply said. Il regret that
The amendment has largely defeated the OBJ
9cct of the clause. and I think the Govern
ceptlug amendments. especially the one pre-
ceoiDE IT, proposed by Mr.. McCav and one TO
le plt by Sir John Quick. in the direction OF
clearly stating what the powers Of the court
would be In this direction In view OF this
lnink lhose Who agreed, az any rate with the
principle of the clause. had no reason TO COM
plain of the attitude OF the Government
The next day in Sydney. in answer
10 a question from a Herald represent
ative, Mr. Watson said:
DO not care about discussing the matter
now. We VIII consider the position verv care
n he held In aT-
bourne on Monday night As ] stated on the
previous day the Government LOOKS Tno1 tbe
tfiendment as a serious and vital one. affect
l,t as u does some Of the main principles OF
The measure.
The Melbourne correspondent Of the
Herald. under date Of June 2S, said:
50 FAR can be judged from informal chats
WIN members OF all parties OF the House OF
-.-irrs- ntaiiFes, there is not much likelihood
az 81 political crisis arising over the amend
mont carried on Friday IN the arbitration bill
] ~ Government Will not OF course consider
.-s action until tomorrow night. when It viii
hold -ts Cabinet meeting. and then il is not
expected 10 make anything public until it
annornoes its decision 10 Parliament on Tues
Commenting editorially in its issue
OF June 10 on the promised resignation
Of Sir John See. Premier Of New South
Wales. the Sydney Herald said:
In cur issue this morning Sir John See prac-
L-alA throws himself on the mercy OF the
country. He has at last decided to resign
tne slnlership and in his address 10 the
Grafton electors-which is an apreal 10 The
people AZ laree-he pleads family bereavement
and il health fun and sufficient excuse for
the steD he wiz now take We have no Wish
10 dispute WIKI him on the reasons so ad-
Nanoed. The Premier of this state must be
fLflng man. both mentally and physically, and
The crisis 10 which We have come demand \
tnat the leader of the Government shall be
able 10 face the future without unnecessary
-la-olc@p- but Win every wish 70 deal gently
- L ---- N-o l--nay proposes 10 take ms place
with past Premiers. and TO be 10 all intents
and purposes politically dead, il is imperative
mat ms Work and worth shall be handled
without resrye. The state is IN a position
OF unusual difficulty Its Industrial affairs are
IN confusion. its credit is exhausted and its
we come the result OF three years admin
istratiou by q Government whose head since
The commonwealth was established has been
Sir John See. But the Government led by Sir
John See has passed from blunder 70 blunder.
and lt is now on the eve Of struggle for
existence Il has been the tool Of the Labor
1lafl4--lseQ IN a score OF ways TO the under
Iflse ana the WithoraWing Of confidence both
within and without The state in half a dozen
by elections during the last twelve months It
has suffered defeat after defeat and II now
stands before the country hopeless and for
lcrn- Its supporters are even afraid 10 appeal
% their constituents a. Ministerialists: and
from al quarters comes The report that cam
Cicares are either refOrucrs or independent IL
fhev are not straight our sllnporters Of the
Labor platform. But the worst feature in 4
clsCrecitable situation is the absence cf
Government announcement Of policy There
has apparently been no attempt at leadership
me attorney genera II IS True mas Deen
trying hard 10 I'll gap with speeches and
local Government convention. but other Min
listers have been speaking, ana the combined
voices have not given the state harmony or
an approach 10 il. Dscord has been the
ruling condition and meanwhile members OF
The party outside have rushed together in de-
spair, crying What shall We do to be
Esved2" There never was such a spectacle Of
political disorder ana Reorganization in the
history Of new South Wales.
The official investigation by the
Marine Board Of the wreck of the
Royal Mail steamship Australia near
Port Philip Head in the early morning
Of June 20 developed the fact that
Pilot Dennis. who had just boarded
her and taken charge, was not only
nearsighted, but in very bad health
otherwise. He is a man Of so years Of
age. He rendered his resignation to
the board in the following cOmmunica-
ton on the 25th ult.:
I beg TO notify the board that in conse-
Qusnce Of my sudden illness 1 have sub
ui'ted myself for medical examination by
Drs 10. Grant lmedical officer Of the board).
Maclean. Barrett and Orr. and in view Of
their reports "a condition of which i had
previous knowledge and which have come as
q painful surprise 70 mel. feel II my duty
70 at once tender my resignation a pilot 1
might say I prostrated the result Of
the terrible loss Of the Australia and feel
the position Of affairs very keenly. I am
very deslrous Of giving all the information
within my power and knowledge to the board
or ~ any inquiry that may be held
The following. taken from the sgd
ney Herald Of June 26, gives two ac-
counts Of the disaster, one Of the pilot
and the other Of the captain:
The master Of the Australia alleges that
when Pilot Dennis took charge the engines
hy the pilots orders. were put full speed
ahead and a course shaped for the Port Phil
liD Heads He also alleges that after going
L. L.. ILL.,