The San Francisco call., 1904-02-05

This movement has helped to accen-
tuate the necessity of seed grain i'm
provement," and good results may be
expected shortly from planting seed
that is uniform in size and as to time
Of termination and ripening, to which
little care has been given heretofore.
The results of the late Federal cleo
tions arc causing much talk among the
people and discussion in the press The
Melbourne. Argus in an editorial lately
summed these up as follows:
The Federal elections have resulted in a de-
cioeo accession 10 the ranks Of the labor MEM
GERS. In the Senate they have gained no fewer
than six seats four at the expense OF the Min
istry, two at the cost Of the Opposition. In
tne Rouse OF Representatives the supporters
ot the Ministry have dwindled from 50 to 26
me Opposition remsining at %, while the
SOCIALISTS have mounted from 16 to -. The
ministry IS thus rewarded for its submission
70 the labor leaders in the last Parliament
Ear as 1t went. II did not go far enough; and
the commonwealth has now learned that moth
Ing VIII satisfy the extremists but the return
OF men pledged to the strictest party disci-
pline ana bound to carry the socialistic pro-
gramms to its furthest limits.
The Sydney Morning Herald says:
The position Of the Ministry in the new
comfortable one. The result of the Federal
elections has placed Mr.. Deal1in. Premier, and
the Opposition and Labor being numerically
stronger. Ministers depend, no doubt on the
support of Labor members but that is not a
condition OF things which either Ministerial
lists or the country can view with much COM
placency. The terms of such support were
laid down in the Labor manifesto, and it ls
difficult to see how any Ministry with the
tutionaI responsibility could accept them, or
how a wholesome public opinion could toll
crate government which surrendered its au-
thority on such terms.
The Argus again says:
The issue Of the triangular fight which
must take place between parties IN the Fed
eral Parliament is very difficult TO predict
party in the House of Representatives Of
twenty-six members 0ncluding Mr.. Kingston),
and in the Senate OF six or seven. Opposed to
him is Mr.. Reid, with party of twenty seven
straight-out Oppositionists 1--WE presuming
that Mr. Blackwood wins the Riverina seaD,
and in the senate a following of fifteen. Be
tween these is the Labor party (and Mr..
Kingston), the Labor party numbering twen-
ty-two in House and fifteen in the other.
There is little doubt that Mr.. Deakn will try
TO gain the support of the Labor party by
conoeding all that the constitution allows him
TO give
After discussing the probable pro-
gramme as to the arbitration, old age
pensions, high commissioner, and
Federal capital bills, which will be
among the first considered. the Ar
gus winds up by saying: The out
look is most uncertain and far from
reassuring."
The Prime Minister in a circular
has invited joint action of all the
States of the commonwealth in the
matter of again attracting immi-
grants.
Speaking of this action, the Sydney
MOrnfUp Herald IN saws
There is much reason for the recommenda-
ton Of the Premier Of the Commonwealth that
the question Of immigration should receive
the attention of the State Premers prior to
600 represented the net immigration of the
Commonwealth in the ten years ended 1891,
following decade. And no Improvement has
since set in Well, therefore may the ques-
ton Of the causes of the cessation Of immi-
grafton be considered.
The Melbourne Argus lays the
blame for the condition of affairs on
the Government in the following:
That the tide OF immigration into Australia
from Europe has ceased to flow is fact to
which the Prime Minister has drawn special
attention. II will occasion surprise. we'll
as satisfaction, TO find that Mr.. Deakin
grets that the human stream which has its
source Britain and other lands is no longer
attracted 10 our shores Several recent events
might have led people to suppose that he
would De Elau IudI our own cOuntTNmen ana
enterprising foreigners 20 longer desire to
enter Australia. For the past three years the
Government with which he has been con-
nected has been building wall TO keep people
out Now that Australia is thoroughly in
treuched he peeps over the barricades and
notes with dismay that one desires to
come in.
The RussO-Japanese imbroglio and
the outcome thereof is a matter of
great interest in Australia. The Brit
ish Government is apparently prepar-
ing for every contingency and is keep
ing in close advice with the defense
department. A mobilization order for
the naval reserve would surprise few
people in Australia if war becomes
imminent.
In an editorial entitled WAR and
Australian Defense" the Argus says:
The considerations suggested by these
things easily raise the question as to what
Australia Is ready to do in her defense
Britain being drawn into the conflict; or,
ondsrily. in the event of Japan emerging vic
torious from a single-handed conflict with
Russia There is a certain amount of menace
to Australia involved in either contingency
Are we prepared to defend ourselves IL at
tackled, and able TO Withstand Jap
anese attack later on our scheme for white
Australia The questions resolve themselves
in the simple one of capacity for defense and
diminished numbers, the absence of ammuni-
tiOn factories on adequate scale, the at
tacks OF Mr. Watson and the Labor party on
the Federal military estimates, and Sir Will
liam Lyme ready submission to Labor dicta-
tion on that subject while acting during the
absence Of Sir John Forrest in England we
have situation which, TO say the least is
not reassuring.
Commander Colquhoun has been
granted leave Of absence by the Min
lister Of Defense to go to Toxic as cor
respondent for the Times in the event
of war. The Prime Minister has stated
that Commander Colquhoun would also
act as Australia's naval representative
at the front and that the special knowl-
edge which he might acquire in actual
naval warfare would be placed at the
disposal Of the commonwealth upon his
return
A report has been received by the
Minister for Mines and Agriculture
from ]. b. Suttor, Government COM
mereial agent in the East, on the sub
1ect Of trade with the Philippines. He
says the outlook certainly appears very
good for New South Wales products.