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FEDERAL VISITORS.
To the Editor.
Sir,— Perth has lately experienced a
spiritual. healing mission. We are now
in the throes of a faith' healing pcr
fnrnnnre conducted bv Federal Ministers
and membsre . The whisper has evidently
t'one round in Melbourne that Federally
Western Australia iii'a very Kick ;ieisor.
age. Hence the advent of this .'liintng
band. Western Australia is being shipped
on the back, told how well she is look
ing, that she has a wonderful constitution
tsiie needs ifi, ;:nil.!!iat. if she wilt only
keep her neck well up in the collar, all
will' be well. This is all very cheering
and can do no harm. T« our cose, how.
ever, we know the Federal Parliament
better as surgeon than as physician. To
this far-flung State it seems tlio'only
operation it understands is the old fash
ioned one of bleeding the patient. When,
after repeated operations, complaint is
made, the patient is cilmly informed
that every vital organ in as. sound as a
bell, to buck up and prepare for Another
operation. If Fedeml M.'nlsters ^id lueir.
be.rB believe that vhc f.^ndful of people in
Western Australia ??on. through Stute
channels, perform nml pay for practically
every function ol etfective Goremuient
over one-third of AiiKrralia, ':-n»i aiuo
submit to the fin.inci.-il exactions, direct
and indirect of the J'V-!tration, they livs
in a fool's paradise. rXhu people »f West
ern Australia arc profoundly dissatisfied
with the results of Federation. Let its
promise and performance be examined,
and who will deny ouc ground for com
plaint? Tariff and excise, retention of
surplus revenue, establishment of Com
monwealth savings banks, navigation
laws, commandeering of gold/ not at
market but at currency values, and re
strictions on trade in base metals, make
a list — every one has had a disastrous
effect on Western Australia. Senator
Pesrce's story of the few thousands of
pounds available for main rond construc
tion reminds one of the story of the man
lost in the bush, who stewed the tail of
bis dog to make a meal. As he sat en
joying it, the original owner came, arid
begged for a share. When the remains
were passed over to him, the dog, with
no tail to wag, showed by every means
in his power, his gratitude for being per
mitted to pick some of his own bones.—
Yours, etc. H.
Cottesloe, Sept. 19.
$