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"SISTERS."
A Photographic Study by W. A. Power, Home Studios, Sydney Road, Brunswick.
The seven Speakers of Australia have doubtless
noticed the ample revenge taken by the
South Australian House of Assembly against
an ex-Speaker who, while in the Chair, ruled
it with an exemplary regard for the Standing
Orders. The House declared him guilty of "undue
prolixity," and declined to.hear him further for
that evening. This strange course could not be
taken in New South Wales, or members might
prepare for Mr. Speaker Willis's next harangue
as a private member. Strange Parliamentary
proceedings, are, however, not unusual in Adelaide.
The Labour party there declared a Eill
unjust, and walked out in a body. That sort
of dodge does not impress the elector, who
wants his representative to talk and vote
against what he objects to—not go sulking out
of the Chamber.
The crisis in Tasmania is not the first in
which the tall, voluble and self-willed Mr. Norman
Cameron has taken part. In an evenlydivjded
House of Representatives he held the
fate of the Reid Government in his hands,, and
the extraordinary scene then enacted is still
the classical sensation of the House of Repre-
sentatives. Mr. Cameron made a long speech,
giving no indication Low he would vote, abusing
both sides indiscriminately. Then he sat
down on the Government benches, and the severe
tension was relieved. Even Mr. Willis's holding
of the even balances has produced no such extraordinary
crisis as that then made by Mr.
Cameron. It was on that occasion that one of
the Federal Parliamentarians, to whom it made
no difference which side was in power, described
the Tasmanian as a "political sausage-skin filled
with wind and water." Tasmania is getting a
reputation for producing political marvels. Mr.
Kink O'Malley still heads the list.
The benefit offered to Miss Flora Graupner recalls
many happv memories of light opera to
playgoers of about two decades ago. There were
two bright particular stars (after Miss Nellie
Stewart, of course), who graduated in Gilbert
and Sullivan's operas under the management of
Messrs. Williamson and Musgrove ; these were
Miss Flora Graupner and Miss Vi. Yarley. The
latter died when at the height of her. popularity,
and poor Flora Graupner'i -fate was perhaps
worse. She has been an invalid for mam*
none Help
years, failing when still quite young. She was
bright and piquant little actress, and • handled
Gilbert's lines and Sullivan's music with great
zest and charm. In "The Gondoliers" and
"The Mikado" she was especially effective. Her
benefit should be a great success, as she, Vi.
Varley and Nellie Stewart inspired an affection
and respect that are lasting, and which the comparatively
trivial material of present-day light
opera does not permit of the performers attaining
now-a-nights.
If the Interstate Commission had been appointed
when the Fusion Government introduced
its Bill in 1909, the chairman would have been
Mr. Bruce Smith, barrister, economist, author
and member of Parliament. Mr. Smith has not
changed one iota in the years that have passed
since then, tout his prospects of attaining to the
dignity and pay of the Commission are now
nil. It is unlikelv that he would accept any
offer less than the chairmanship. His modest
fortunes have been considerably increased by a
legacy from a brother, and with it his interest
in things political seem to have diminished.
When in the House there is no one to match
him at drawing forth the special-effort vituperation
of what Mr. Fisher describes, in contradistinction
to the fiirst-bench occupier, as the
"cornerman." Mr. Bruce Smith lias withstood
for many years the shafts of the Labour cornermen.
Now that fortune has smiled on him
he would not relish leaving the political fight
for the calm of the Commission's sittings.
Manager Crouch's report on the ways and customs
of the Australian players composing the
1912 team has resulted in a woful sort of advertisement
for Australian cricket and Australian
cricketers. London "Daily Chronicle" bewails
the fact that • the report was not treated
as private and confidential. Australians don't
think that. Mr. M'Elhone might think so, and
a few other gentlemen of the Board might have
been glad to hush up inquiry ; but gumsuckers,
cornstalks and crow-eaters are all anxious to
know the worst, and have a thoroughly satisfactory
cleaning up. We are ready to admit
that the good cricketer who does not know how
to behave himself is not fit to represent Australia
abroad ; but when a good cricketer is also
a decent man he should not be barred because
a few gentlemen of the Board of Control don't
like the colour of his eyes. The failure of this
last Eleven may ,be a good thing for Australian
cricket after all—if Australia is allowed to
know all about it. So speak up, Mr. Manager
Crouch.
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