The Councillors of Canberra (A Forecast)

(A Forecast)

Among Federal members there is a movement afoot for the early transfer of the Commonwealth to Canberra.

And behold! A certain man came
out of Canberra in the year 1919, and
he said unto the people, "Come from
the place of Government—from that
desert place where the multitude of
Councillors in whom there is wis-
dom (they have that written upon
the floor of their Chamber) do make
laws for the well-being of the nation.
But the people mocked him, say-
ing: "What, Councillors?"

And he answered them: "The Coun-
cillors of Canberra, who make law for
the Federation. And, behold, the task
after much travail of the tongue, is
accomplished."

And they mocked him anew, say-
ing: "But we ARE happy, and we
have no need of your Councillors. We
are now split into diverse States, and
we are prosperous. For, behold, we
have many ports, and good roads, and
decentralisation, and uniform rail
gauges. The Northern Territory is
peopled with a white race, and our
exports overseas vastly exceed our
imports, and everything in Australia
is simply Boshter!"

Whereupon the envoy pursed his
lips, and said unto them in a voice
grown humble: "What message, then,
shall I take back to my Councillors?"

And the people, being a happy
people and therefore a generous
people, answered: "We shall let
them come forth. But never more
must they talk, except to the pur-
pose. We shall give them lands to
till, and sheep to shear, and kine to
milk, and crops to garner—so they
do it in silence. For, lo, we have
learned that silence is golden, and
it is broken, when it becomes as
brass; and from the multitude of
Councillors who talk overmuch the
wisdom leaketh. Bring forth your
Councillors, and we shall feed them
upon the fruits of our silent toil.
For we are a happy people, and
therefore a forgiving people."

And behold it was so. The Coun-
cillors came forth, each man with
tight-pressed lips, and they, in turn,
learning wisdom, became also happy.
And the place called Canberra be-
came but a mark upon the map.