The Queensland State Government Will live in history, if not for its appalling extravagance with consequent taxation, at least for its impudent attempt to set up a constitution by the mere ipso elicit of a temporary' majority tuid on a previous occasion: Inrperial government was persuaded to brush the Chief Justice aside and make an active member of the Labour party Lieutenant-Governor. Having done this the Labour Government, proceeded to pack the Legislative Council with Labour officials and strong partisans, whereby it was able to pass certain measures which in other circumstances would never have survived an appeal to the people.
The last Act has been passed by both Houses, by the Assembly after the frequent application of the gag to prevent full discussion, and by the Council in obedience to the orders issued from the Labour headquarters. The Act is one to abolish the Legislative Council altogether, with no further to do about the matter. Fortunately the Colonial Secretary in London had awakened to the blunder of allowing a partisan to be even acting Governor, and had sent out Sir Matthew Nathan. Ho reserved this wonderfni Act for the King's assent. If one is to accept a most unfortunate decision of the Privy Council any colonial government can pass any Aci it likes. This measure to abolish the Council practically repeals an Imperial] Act of Parliament.
If the Council cam thus be abolished, without at least consulting the people by referendum, then why no: also abolish the Governor, the Supreme Court, make the Assembly a House elected every quarter of a century, and in short set up an autocracy. Under the Commonwealth Constitution the people of all Australia must protect Queensland from foreign invasion, but a government established in defiance of the Imperial Government, and with none of the legal safeguards which are part of the check upon its illegalities, might quite easily invite foreign aggression. Presumably the matter will be given consideration in London, and it is te be hoped that the decision arrived at this time will be constitutional rather than political.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.