46["Minister for Works", The Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA), Saturday 08 June 1912, page 4]

MINISTER FOR WORKS

RETURNS TO CARNARVON

AND DELIVERS STIRRING ADDRESS

A hurriedly arranged but crowded meeting was held in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday night, when members of the Penguin party gave addresses on current politics. The Mayor, Mr. W. G. Iles, presided, and briefly introduced the speakers.

The Minister for Works, Mr. W. D. Johnson, who on rising was greeted with lengthy applause, said he would have to be brief, as he was not feeling fit after the voyage. Passing Point Cloates the previous evening the Penguin had shaken them about pretty considerably, and they had not yet recovered. He thought before setting out on the trip that the tour of the North-West would be

An Education to Them,

and that expectation had been more than realised. He had found things worse than he had anticipated in the matter of organisation, and the effect of his investigation would be a considerable saving in expenditure and better attention to the requirements of those districts. He regretted that such a vast asset should have been left in

A Disorganised Condition

for so long. Previous Ministerial visits had been political rather than in connection with administration. He found that the burning question being treated by the newspapers was the result of the Legislative Council elections. The Labor party always had this consolation, that though the council had a lot to say on legislation it could not affect administration, and it was by the latter that the Government was carrying out its platform. It was claimed that the Legislative Council had received a mandate to oppose the Government.

A Mandate from Whom ?

From the very people the Labor party fought at the last general election on a people's franchise, and defeated them. He was sorry to see the Labor candidates beaten, but if all had been successful he would have thought something was wrong. "When these people eulogise me," he said, "I begin to think I am not doing my duty to the people--I don't want their eulogy." The press were recognising that the Government was doing things they said they were going to do, and so there were attacks and criticisms. The press knew that if the Government could not be hindered they would be recognised as practical administrators. It was found they were going about

The Purchase of Steamers

in a businesslike way, and would have the shipping such a going concern by next elections that the bulk of the people would give them credit for their work. (Applause.) Before last election the Liberals promised State steamers for the Nor'-West "if found necessary." A loophole was there provided for escape after the elections. The "West Australian" approved of the item and claimed to advocate the development of the North-West. Now the thing had been done the "West" was calling on the Legislative Council to question the Government's right to purchase. The Government was not going to the Council, which had no control over money matters. (Applause.) The Liberals before the election wanted voters to believe they wanted State steamers, but now it was done they opposed it because it interfered with vested interests. They were satisfied that sooner or later they must

Fight the Legislative Council.

When that fight came, the fight would be on the people's franchise. There was no reason for a second chamber, and people were wondering now why they could emphatically endorse a certain policy, but when the Legislative Council elections came round they could not give expression to their desires. The papers could howl, but the Government would go ahead and give effect to their policy. (Applause.) He noticed there was a

Deficit on May's Operations.

When the Government took office the newspapers prophesied considerable reduction in revenue owing to the bad season. The papers also eulogised the Government for considerate treatment of the farmers who were not able to make their payments owing to the season. Yet now there was a deficit, the papers declared the Government was no jolly good at financing. Good seasons would soon return, and they would make up the leeway, assisted by the settlers they had assisted. (Applause.) Right along the coast most splendid hospitality had been extended to them. Everywhere there was optimism.

From Roebourne Northwards,

a splendid season was being experienced, and the pastoral industry was in a good way. The small pastoralists were all of opinion that they had a Government in power that would give them all an opportunity to market their produce while considering the interests of the consumer at the other end. He had seen

Mining Shows

outside Roeboume and Marble Bar that he had never expected were so promising. He recognised the miners at these shows were working under great disabilities. Mr. Blatchford was travelling through the mining districts and would advise the Government where to put treatment plants. At Marble Bar he saw stone being put through that averaged 8ozs. to the ton. Seeing these various shows, and particularly the wonderful tin-field at Wodgina, he could understand the vast value of this Nor'-West territory. (Hear, hear.) At Broome he impressed upon an audience that the

Day for Colored Labor

had gone. (Cheers.) Recently white divers had been brought out from England as an experiment. They were able by their methods to escape the dreaded divers' paralysis. Their difficulty was to find where the shell was, and those who professed to be assisting in the experiment were giving little assistance in this. When that was overcome, the white diver would prove his superiority to the colored. (Applause.) He hoped his trip would assist the Government to do much, for the great asset Western Australia possessed in the North West. (Continued applause.)