The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1909. VICTORIAN POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2398, 13 January 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1909. VICTORIAN POLITICS.

The construction of the new Aliiiistry in Victoria seems to mark the political elimination of Sir Thomas Bent, who* lias been at the head of Yuctorian politics for many years. Like the late Air Seddon, Sir Thomas Bent ruled his parliamentary flock with a rod of iron, and in the later years of his political reign was a veritable autocrat. But while possessing" something of the strong personality of New Zealand’s late Premier, ho lacked the groat breadth of mind that characterised Air Seddon, and was in no sense so keen a diplomatist as his contemporary. The time came, as it w»ls bound to come, when the people would not tolerate the tyranny and tactlessness which usually precedes the downfall of an autocrat, and Sir Thomas lias had to go. That he remained Premier as long as he did was due chiefly more to. the difficulty in getting anothor leader capable of inspiring confidence than through satisfaction .with himself;' and* the anti-Socialists feared that any change might play into the hands of the extreme Laborltcs. Finally tho discontent with the Premier became so strong that a vote of want of confidence in him was proposed in the Legislative Assembly, and was declared carried by l a decisive majority. It was naturally assumed that the mover of the motion, Air Alurray, who had formerly been a member of tho Bent Ministry, but had resigned, would bo called upon to form a Ministry, but ,t© tho surprise of all, Sir Thomas Bent succeeded in inducing tho Governor to order la dissolution. As the Labor Party complained at the time, this was like giving Air Bent two chances to one of bis opponents’, but results would show that even this substantial advantage was of little avail to the former loader. Tho elections took place at a time which could scarcely be deemed opportune, namely in the last week of the old year, and the most 'noticeable feature of the returns was* tho increase in tho Labor vote, which returned four or five additional members, rendering still more difficult tho task of those who wished to keep tho Socialist element from dominating the politics of tho State. It became evident that if tho anti-Socialists remained divided, with Sir Thomas Bent leading the remnant of his following, and Air Alurray another section of the Party, the Laboritcs un-

der Air Prendergast would control the position! At this stage, Air Bent, ■who had lost several strong supporters in the campaign, came forward and offered to give place to any other, leader whom the party chose. It was the only step ho could take under tlio_ circumstances, but it must have been extremely humiliating to him to find that liis bitterest opponent should be selected to load tho party. Of Air -Murray's qualifications for tho position it is difficult, to an opinion at the moment. Under the Bent Alinistry, formed i:i 1904, lie was Chief Secretary and Minister for Lab >i\ besides being President of' the Baird of Lands and YVorks, CummisiU'inerOf Crown Lands ami Survey, and .Minister of Agriculture. Of him tho “Alelbourne Argus,” writing just before the election, said : —• * Since Air Alurray, so' far, lir-.'j made his . attack on personal grounds, he cannot object if the public weigh his own personal value as a possible Premier. His-Alinister-ial caroeis before he left tho Bent Cabinet to become its most hostile supporter is saying a good doal), was quite undistinguished. Ho lias no special merits to recommend him, and the people iuiy* well ask whether it would be an improvement on the present condition of affairs to have him as Premier, controlled by the Prendergast party. However, this seems merely the jibe of, a political opponent, and is evident, from the determined and successful manner in which Air AI array has carried out his movement to unseat Sir Thomas Bent, that he possesses more than ordinary personality. Aloreover, it would appear that he has been able, temporarily at any rate to weld together some very discordant elements, from which it may also bo argued that lie possesses some talent for leadership. In Yactoria, as in practically all the Australian States, the chief difficulty just now is to present a united front to the constant and persistent attack of the advanced Socialistic element which seeks, either from the Treasury Benches or in Opposition., to control the legislative affairs of the country.