Chinese and Phosphate

Production.

The Massive Mind of the Australian Politician.

AS an example of the kind of intelli gence which the Australian Parlia mentary system produces, we may refer to a series of questions asked in the Federal House on October 25, by a Mr. A. Green. He is, we think, a Labour member from West Australia.

Mr. Green asked six questions, to suggest that the Australian and New Zealand farmers are paying too much for phosphate rock from Nauru, and that the price should be reduced.

The Minister patiently explained that the Phosphate Commission is not a profit-making concern—it hands all its profits back to the farmers in reduced prices.

Then Mr. Green bobbed up again, to suggest that the 900 Chinese now em ployed in quarrying phosphate rock on Nauru Island be repatriated, and un employed Australians sent there instead —at, presumably, Australian rates of pay.

He was curtly told that the idea was impracticable.

But Mr. Green should not be discour aged. There are thousands of Kanaka plantation labourers employed in the Pacific. Let us send them home to their villages, and employ in place of the natives a few thousand Aus tralian labourers. Of course, they will demand a 40-hours’ week; and a plantation manager’s wage; and travel ling time between the barracks and the drying-sheds; and bacon and eggs three times a day; and compensation for each New Guinea ulcer produced; and the right to form a committee to run the plantation. But why worry about little things like that, so long as copra is worth £9 per ton on the beach?