Contrast between Western Australia and the Eastern Provinces--The Constitution of South Australia--The alliance between Liberalism and Labour--Joint action in the face of financial depression: Village Settlements, Progressive Taxation, the direct encouragement of production--The advocacy of an Elective Executive--The State and Religious Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. _DEMOCRACY AND ITS SAFEGUARDS IN NEW SOUTH WALES._ The necessity for safeguards against financial extravagance and political pressure--The Crown Lands Act--The appointment of independent Railway Commissioners--The Standing Committee on Public Works--The Public Service Board--The unemployed, their numbers and treatment--The democratisation of the constitution--The Labour Party, its history, successes and aspirations . . . . . . . . 34 {x} III. _PROBLEMS OF QUEENSLAND._ The agitation of Central and Northern Queensland for separation from the South--The "Kanaka" traffic--White and coloured labour on the plantations--The Sugar Works Guarantee Act--The irregularity of employment in the sugar and pastoral industries--The conditions and opinions of the shearers--Assistance to dairymen and producers of frozen meat--The Labour Party, its history and prospects--Criticisms of the Government--The principles of State action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 IV. _THE LAND POLICY OF NEW ZEALAND._ Differences of conditions between Australia and New Zealand--The Public Works policy--Taxation on land--The Land Act of 1892--The Land for Settlements Acts--The Government Advances to Settlers Acts--The encouragement of settlement--The co-operative construction of Public Works--The unemployed--Continuity of policy . . . . . . . . . 82 V. _CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTORIAN LEGISLATION._ Comparisons between the Australasian Upper Houses--Conflicts between the two Houses in Victoria--The proposed obviation of deadlocks--The utility of the Legislative Council--The antagonism between Town and Country--The Factory Acts, their justification and provisions--State Socialism: Railways, Irrigation Works, the encouragement of Mining, Subsidies and Bonuses, State advances to Settlers--The Unemployed and the Leongatha Labour Colony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 {xi} VI. _THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA._ Constitutional history--The relations of Church and State--Natural impediments to development--The construction of railways--The scarcity of water--the promotion of the mining and other industries--The absence of parties in Parliament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 VII. _DISCURSIVE NOTES ON TASMANIA._