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POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.
Prom "MATURE ELECTOR."
Walkerville:-The excitement caused
by the formation of the Political Re- <*>
form League has apparently led to a
IUITU Ud&KUc TITVr fttfUfltCH i4 v ICU iAJ tt
-stampede of thoughtless people anxious
to Join its ranks. I feel that they
have not properly considered what they
are doing, and that a timely warning
should be sounded. Many oeople of
mature years, after half a lifetime spent
in deliberating on the platforms of
political parties, have felt unable to
give their unqualified adherence to any
one of them, and it is wise to make
sure that this new body is not too re
volutionary in its views before we
pledge our allegiance to it. Let me
point out some vital objections to th-->
policy of this body. Women are. I
understand, not admitted to member
ship. This Is doubtless for the well
known reason that women are not re
formers, but are the most conservative
!of reactionaries. Still. I maintain that
1 as thejr have a vote, political par^^s,
like weddings, are not complete with
out them. They advocate reduction
in the number of member of Parlia
) ment. What for? The Bible that i
? I "in the imiltioUcitv of counsel there if |
I wisdom." and I think the true vcmedv
Ij is to v.-iden the franchise, piving more
I people a vote and increase the number
of members, so that all may be nrc
i perly represented. At present we have
I only <W members representing about
I 1 fiOO.OOO electors, or 1 for every 10.000.
? Hovr csn a member hope to keep in :
i oerfional touch with the n^ds and [
i wishes of 10.000 constituents? I be- i
I lieve the Hoi'<*> of Commons com- !
? I nrises about 350 members, which mak<^ ]
' for wiser and sounder deliberations and !
' more of them. The league advocates j
1 liberty of the subiect. but surriv thf j
! lesson iauftht by Mussolini should not
i pass unheeded. Thp cure fir demo- I
cratic ills is autocratic control and
, stricter povemment rather tn?n mire
[ license is what is required. The
I lea<me advises consulting financial er:
-? wns on matters of finance. This
will oijcn the door to gteantic swindles,
like the recent ones in France, if wvn?!
unscrunuloiis men can make use of tho [
Government machinery to further t!"?*'
own ends. No. let us be slow and
sure. While we r-ave men of mat'i^a
ludgment, like Mr. Coneybeer. Mr
.' Hamilton, and Mr. T offer we know that
? no'hine startline will be done, and a*
i a time like this it is the safe and staid
? men we renuire in Parliament, not the
' ] young hot-heads. ' I
From >-A REFORMER," Rose Park:
—The Liberal Federation carried a
resolution to co-opsrate with the mem
bers of the Political Reform League "to
whatever extent may bo practical."
From this it appears that the valu?
of the reform*: sue?c.=tcd by the league
has already been felt by the Liberal
Federation. The Political Reform
League, a body winch appears to com
nrise Ltb<=ral-mi?ded men who have
be.-ome discusied vrifh the pre-senl
.stagnant conii.tior, of politics, should
welcome the resolution, as it indicate^
a desire on the part of the Liberal
[Federation to am?nd its platform in
I trie manner sii^^ested by the letiTur.
1 This v.-ill bp the quick'^t and b?st
i rar of co-on'-rs'lnT with tho Poli
:. lical R"forni L?ae;ii-; and t!io nuhlin
!'i"n oi the recol;it:o:i siiows th7t t"i?
'Libnrpt FeoTation annreciited the de
j sir.ibility of acfpDanc the am?nd
'ments to its platform, which the Poli
tica] Reform Lcacuc is pledged to brine
about.
Prom -HOPEFUL FUTURE." Tu:>
.more:—T*ie Poliucal Helorm League
shouid nave come into t^o^jj^r^ vejrs
ago. I a msorry to see taai It has'
started off badly by including too many '
I lawyers in its committee of manage- j
I meat. Its nrst duty is to control me .
actions as far as possible of tne liberal 1
I Pederation executive, wnich has been:
; too autocratic in recent years. The J
Liberal Pederauon cannot run against!
the Country Farty. This was proved
at the recent Federal elections, and if
it continues on its present policy it'
will be left at the next State elections. *
The first duty of this new league is |
to see that the Liberal Federation j
' alters its policy and works hand in <
; hand with, the Country Party. Its
I .second duty will be to alter the present
executive of tbe Liberal Federation,
and tee that popular candidates are
put ud at elections. The present
Liberal Federation has depended for
votes upon the taxpayers who do n<>t
favor Labor, and no matter who it puts
up the Liberal Federation expects those
votes, but it will not get them. This
was proved at the last Federal elec
tions, when voting was compulsory. A
lot of votes were cast for Labor that
should have gone to Liberal candidates,
and some people did not mark tbeir
tickets at all. hence a lot of informal
votes. This idea must be dropped.
Tiie policy to be adopted by the Liberal
Federation should be one of martin?
time as regards expenditure. Such
suggestions as altering the Legislative
Council and the Government Offices
should be postponed until times are
better. In Federal affairs our State 1
representatives should oppose similar j
expenditure, and the bonus system par
ticularly. Why should certain Indus- j
tries benefit by getting Federal assis
tance by way of bonuses? AH other
trades and businesses are also entitled
to consideration, as well as those apply
ing for the bonus. There is no argu
ment that can justify this exsendtture.
1 hope the Reform Leaeue has come
to stop, and I wish It an success, but!
it must hold Its independence sacred. 1
and not be tricked into an apathetic
state by the liberal Federation.
From "MALLEE FARMER." Goolwa:
—If the Political Reform Leaeue can
reform some of our politicians I wish it
I success. Some of them want reforming
j with a vengeance. We will fight to the I
I last ditch to reform some of those who
: .=poke and voted for the Motor Tran
: snort Control Act and the Motor Spe
cial Licenses Act. both of which de
prived the farmer and gardener of the
; rit-ht to carry on their business as they
! did before these measures were passed.
I was a stanch Liberal till those Acts
were passed. Now I am going to loin
the Country Party. *^
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