history]
AUSTRALIA 805 all means for settling industrial disputes strikes are, on their numbers being reduced from 35 to 19; but a signal most rn, e stnkes the disastrous that it can adopt. triumph was won for solidarity. Very few of the memof . ‘ the years 1890 and 1892 are just as bers who refused to take the pledge were returned, and important on account of their political consequences as the adherents of the united party were able to accomplish irom the direct gains or losses involved. As one result of the strike of 1890 a movement was set more with their reduced number than under the old atoot by a number of enthusiasts, more visionary than conditions. 0 t of the ca •4- U T° features Labour and partythein control New South Wales are detachment from other parties of the caucus Political l01)rac^ lj that has resulted in a measure of more its ess conse^ disaster. This was the planting of a Ihe caucus, which is the natural corollary of the detachment quences. colony of communistic Australians in South determines_ by majority the vote of the whole of the members of the party, independence of action being allowed on minor questions Ame ica much M wir I ' aAfter negotiation decided the leader, Mr William Lane, Brisbane journalist, on only. So far the party has refrained from formal alliance with the other great parties of the state. It supports the Government as I araguay, and he tramped across the continent, preaching the power alone capable of promoting legislation, but its support a new crusade, and gathering in funds and recruits in his is given only so long as the measures of the Government are progress. On the 16th of July 1893 the first little army consistent with the Labour policy. This position the Labour party of New Australians ” left Sydney in the Royal Too- has been able to maintain with great success, owing to the circumwhich arrived at Monte Video on the 31st of August. stance that the other parties have been almost equally balanced. Other consignments of intending settlers in “New The movement towards forming a parliamentary Labour Australia ” followed; but though the settlement is still in party was. not confined to New South Wales; on the existence it has completely failed to realize the impracti- contrary, it was common to all the colonies cable ideals of its original members. The Queensland except West Australia, and its greatest °'fer. Government has assisted some of the disillusioned to triumphs have been achieved in New Zealand C° onies‘ escape from the paradise which has proved a prison; some and South Australia. Like the organization in New managed to get away on their own account; and those South Wales, the Labour party of South Australia owes lat have remained have split into as many settlements its origin to the failure of the Great Strike of 1890. In almost as there are settlers. Another effect of the Great that year the Trades and Labour Council of Adelaide btrike was in a more practical direction. New South summoned a conference of Labour representatives, at which U ales was the first country which endeavoured to settle a proposal for the formation of a parliamentary party was its labour grievances through the ballot-box and to send a drawn up and adopted. The political programme of the gieat party to parliament as the direct representation of new party was. comprehensive and popular, and almost Labour, pledged to obtain through legislation what it was immediately on its adoption three representatives of Labour unable to obtain by strikes and physical force. The won seats in the Second Chamber (Legislative Council), principle of one-man one-vote had been persistently and at the ensuing general election of 1893 the party advocated without arousing any special parliamentary or secured 8 seats in the assembly out of a total of 54, public enthusiasm until the meeting of the Federal Con- and .6 out of 24 in the council, thereby gaining a convention in 1891. The convention was attended by Sir trolling vote in both Houses. Two general elections have George Grey, who was publicly welcomed to the colony since taken place, and at each the party has maintained by New Zealanders resident in Sydney, and by other its position. In 1900 it controlled 12 votes in the popular admirers, and his reception was an absolute ovation. He House and 8 in the council. The members of the South eloquently and persistently advocated the principle of Australian Labour party differ in one important respect one-man one-vote as the bed-rock of all democratic from those of* New South Wales. They are all persons reform. This subsequently formed the first plank of the who have, worked for their living at manual labour, and Labour platform. Several attempts had been made by this qualification of being an actual worker is one that New individuals belonging to the Labour party to was strongly insisted upon at the formation of the party enter tke South New South Wales parliament, but and strictly adhered to, although the temptation to break Wales. it was not until 1891 that the occurrence away , from it and to accept as candidates persons of of a general election gave the party the superior education and position has been very great. The looked-for opportunity for concerted action. The re- South Australian Labour party has maintained the unity sults of the election came as a complete surprise to of its ranks, notwithstanding the fact that several of its the majority of the community. The Labour party members hold very diverse views on important questions captured 35 seats out of a House of 125 members; and as of political reform, and it recently showed its power by the old parties almost equally divided the remaining seats, displacing the Government of the Bight Honourable C. and a fusion was impossible, the Labour representatives . Kingston, and almost immediately afterwards ousting dominated the situation. It was not long, however, before that of Mr V. L. Solomon, who succeeded Mr Kingston in the party itself became divided on the fiscal question ; and the premiership. In Victoria the Labour party has not a Protectionist Government coming into power, about half been so conspicuous as in New South Wales and South the Labour members gave it consistent support and enabled Australia. The members of the Victorian Assembly are it to maintain office for about three years, the party as a not divided into such distinct parties as are the members political unit being thus destroyed. The events of these of the popular houses of the other colonies, and the Labour three years taught the Labour leaders that a parliament- paity has therefore not been able to determine the real ary party was of little practical influence unless it was balance of power. Nevertheless it wields an influence that able to cast on all important occasions a solid vote, and to is veiy much lespected, as is evidenced by the large amount meet the case a new method was devised. The party o advanced, democratic legislation which has been proposed therefore determined that they would refuse to support Various ver eon even nments that heldConservative office since any person standing in the Labour interests who refused to i1890, by g° governments with have strong pledge himself to vote on all occasions in such way as the leanings. In Queensland the Labour party numbered, in majority of the party might decide to be expedient. 1900, 21 out of 72 members in the elective branch of This was called the “ solidarity pledge,” and, united under parliament, a larger proportion than in any other state • its sanction, what was left of the Labour party contested but. only for a. brief period have parties been so evenly the general election of 1894. The result was a defeat, divided as to give the Labour party the balance of power.
