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CRITICISM BY THE OPPOSITION
LEADER.
The view» of the Leader of the Op-
position, Mr. T. H. Bath, M.L.A., on
the policy of the Government, ag ex-
pounded hy the Premier at Bunbury on
Tuesday night, were obtained by a re-
porter on Wednesday. Mr. Bath said:
"I presume we may accept Mr.
Moore's titterance last night as his own
version of what the Government policy
should bo, differing materially, as it
does, from that of the ^Attorney-Gene-
ral, and we must wait with as much
patience as possible the decision of the
Cabinet caucus as to what the policy
really will be. It is interest ina to
observe the divergence of pubJicIy«ex
pressed views between the Ministers as
to the vaiious proposals put forward,
especially in regard to taxation of the
unimproved value of land, immigration,
and certain proposals for public works.
Of coarse, as long as the policy of tb«
Government is uncertain criticism is
disarmed ; but, if we accept the decla-
ration Of members of the Cabinet in
general terms, it will be-found that
proposals such as land values taxation
and Legislative Council reform hare
been adonted after the advocacy of the
Labour Party has formed a strong
current of public opinion in their fa-
vour. Mr. Moore evidently believes in
a borrowing policy for more than pub-
lic works.
"However, while the Premier and his
colleagues declare their intention to
place the questions in the forefront of
their programme, their sincerity of
purpose must be. suspiciously regarded,
in view of their inclusion as an Hon-
orary Minister of a gentleman who has
always strenuously opposed these pro-
posals, while in the recent Legislative
Council elections Ministers used all
'their weight and influence to return
;,gentleme^i' :Who haye" declared: against
any reforni of the Legislative Council. ¡
"With respect to the fee Ryu pie for
perpetual leaseholders, if experience
elsewhere is taken as a guide it is safe
to predict that the specious reach out
for popularity will assuredly result in
the land monopolist acquiring thc bulk
of these areas within 10 years, to the
exclusion of those who now enjoy
the possession of areas free from
the rapacity of landlords' and mono-
polists.
"I have already expressed my opin-
ion that the abolition oí the labour
conditions on mining leases, and the
substitution of the Californian system
of money expenditure, wiil produce the
same evils as characterise the system.in
California, and will be a direct in-
centive to shepherding.
"Mr. Moore made no mention what-t
ever of a matter which is of deep mo-
ment to many thousands of trades
unionists in Western Australia, and
that is the proposal to refuse registra-
tion under the Arbitration eind Trades
Union Acts to any society the rules of
which permit of political action being
taken,
"So far as the public works are con
cornea, Mr. Moore has outlined an ex-
tensive policy. Doubtless, he assumes
that, ns ho happens to represent the
Birthplace, he will emulate Sir John
Forrest, and reign for ten years. . It
is- more likely that in the distant fu-
ture the 'oldest inhabitant' in various
parts of tho State will arise and pro-
test indignantly against the failure to
carry out works 'mentioned' in the
long-ago by Mr. Moore when Premier.
"The financial situation was - skim-
med over, and as no effort was made
to indicate how the financial chasm is
?o be bridged over, it is evidently left
for Mr. Frank Wilson to attempt to
solve the difficulty. The Premier is
sufficiently informative, however, to
declare that we are about to embark
on a new era of prosperity, and he is
going to ask the money-lender to lend,
ns a million pounds to do it with; the
fore-TUnner of another borrowing jam-
boree if the many works mentioned
by Mr. Moore are to be carried
out.
"So far as the programme is con-
cerned, there are proposals which, if
honestly desired by the Government,
and with further liberalisation, will
commend themselves to any member of
democratic instincts who rises - above
party considerations, and others which
will command the riiost strenuous op-
position. It is just as w«>Il to mention
that there is one omission in Minis-
terial pronouncements. As they are
all formulating their own policies, the
public would like to hear from the
second in command <"Mr. Frank Wil-
son), the universally declared dominat-
ing figure in the Cabinet/'
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