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"TACTICS OF VAUGrHANITES."
"We arc satisfied with the position, so
far as Parliamentary proceedings have
gone," .remarked Mr. F. W. Birrell on
Wednesday, speaking for the United'
Labour Parly. "Ike public eye must have
been opmcd to the tardea of the Vangkaa*
jtes witk a view to bring about political
disruption in State politics. Not having
been satisfied with their endeavours to
widen the split in the United labour
Party's ranks, they apparently have now
turned their attention towards the Liberals
as n last resort. These tactics have been
contemptible in both instances, because
they have amounted to charging- everyone
who is opposed to them with being disloyal,
no matter whether they are Labourites or
Liberals. The people should be alive to
the fact that this is being done not for
national purposes, but in the National
Party's interests. A good deal was made
of the fact that the Vaugbanabes did not
enter candidates for the Boroesa and New1j
ceetle seatfe, but 1 possess information |
wjiich shows that an attempt was made— i
at any rate, so far as Newcastle is con-!
ccrned—to run a National candidate,, .a j
' member of the U.L.P. having been ap
proached to break his allegiance wftth us for
the purpose of securing their selection.1
That man was not to be caught; but, if'
he had been, the Vaughanites would have!
thrown aside the plea that they were'
actuated by patriotic motives in not con
testing Newcastle, and have gone on with ;
the election. The sole reason for their j
not doing so was that they could |
not secure a suitable candidate, i
and the reason whv jthfcy did not contest
Barossa was that uteir following in that i
district was so small that they did not havej
the courage to face the position. The
Vaughanites are fighting to get to the
country immediately in order to capture
the "sentimental" vote; but Governments
or Parliaments should be returned on a'
much sounder reason; and that is the.
ability of members to administer the State
in the best interests of the community. If
an .appeal was made to the country at pre- j
sent it would be a false issue, because Mr. ]
Pcake—by reason of his constitutional ma- j
jority—is entitled to be given an oppor
tunity to administer the affairs-of the coim- j
try. If he does not do «o, then the U.L.P.
will not be slow to tell him so. Mr. Peake
is taking up quite a right attitude on - the
question of forming * a national Govern
ment, but Mr. Vaughan did not hitherto
attempt to form one. He desired to form
a Government so strong that it would
practically obliterate the 1-a.bour Party. Ijt
is not on national grounds that he wants
this to happen, but for the purpose of vent
ing his spite upou those with whom he had
recently been associated but has now left."
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