2. Nationalization of monopolies.
3. Old-age pensions.
4. Tariff referendum.
5. Progressive tax on unimproved land values.
6. Restriction of public borrowing.
7. Navigation laws (provision for manning. etc.) 8. Citizen defense force.
9. Arbitration act amendment (ensuring effectiveness).
10. Commonwealth bank of deposit and issue and life and fire insurance department.
IL Uniform industrial legislation; amendment of constitu tion to provide for same.
12. Civil equality of men and women.
Since this platform was put forward, °White Australia" has been maintained, °Old Age Pen sions° have been adopted, a °Progressive Land Tax° has been passed, °Navigation Laws" and laws to provide for °Citizen. Defense Forces" have also been passed. Amendments to the "Arbitration Acts,° °Uniform Industrial Legis lation") and a °Commonwealth Bank of Deposit and Issue" (see FINANCE) have also been en acted.
This platform insists that monopolies shall be nationalized, as constituting a public danger, and the Labor party expresses its disbelief in the efficacy of measures designed to merely regulate modern trusts. Under its objective the party will embrace every opportunity of ex tending the. functions of collective authority where it is shown to be practicable and of value to the community. From this statement of the position it will be seen that the Labor party is undoubtedly socialistic, but it does not pro pose to plunge Australia suddenly into any ex periment of a wholesale character. The people have control in respect of each successive step, and may be relied upon to call a halt if at any stage failure is experienced.
Two proposed laws for the alteration of the constitutional powers of the Common wealth in regard to industries and business were submitted to the people by referendum for acceptance or rejection in April 1911. The first proposal was to amend the Constitution Act so i as to give the Commonwealth government n creased powers to deal with trade and com merce, corporations, industrial matters and trusts and monopolies. The second proposal was to empower the Commonwealth govern ment to make laws with respect to monopolies; both of these proposals were rejected by popu lar vote. They were again submitted to the vote at the general elections in May 1913, and again rejected.
On the whole, the Labor party throughout Australia has given a much needed impetus to social legislation; and, in reply to those who urge that its objects and methods are opposed to the welfare of the community, it points to the fact that since its appearance in Australian politics wealth has found a wider distribution; hours have been shortened and wages raised in many occupations; sweating has been mini mized; and that, though much remains to be done, the people enjoy greater prosperity than before the advent of the new political force.
Bibliography.—'The Labor Party and In dustrial Legislation' (1912) ; Cutback, 'White Australia Question' (1909) ; Hirsh, 'Democracy of Socialism' (1901) • Lush, 'Chinese Expul sion in Australia' (1902) ; Parker, 'Australia for the White Ma& (1901) ; Reeves, (The Aus tralian Labor Ministry' (1904).