WILD TALK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 131, 16 March 1931, Page 5

WILD TALK

APPOINTMENT OF DICTATOR.

FEELING IN WEST AUSTRALIA.

RETURNED MEN'S DISCUSSION.

ACTION IN THE KING'S NAME

United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.45' a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. From Perth comes the story of a suggestion that 5500 picked returned soldiers should assemble near Canberra, take the city, turn out the Government and members of Parliament and establish Sir John Monash as dictator. This was submitted to a meeting of Western Australian flying men, who decided to urge the conference of returned soldiers to consider how existing conditions could be met. Another suggestion was for a "khaki shirt" movement and that when the Government was turned out the British Government be informed that the country had been taken in the King's name and asking that someone be sent to Australia to take charge. Sir John Monash is at present in India where he attended the opening of New Delhi. ,

FIERY WORDS AT CONFERENCE.

ALLEGED FASCIST MENACE

(.United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day.

The Metropolitan Labour Conference, yesterday was marked by fiery speeches and wild suggestions that Mr Lang was in personal danger, and that arms should be taken up to protect him from the menace of a cadet corps of Fascist groups which are being formed throughout the .State. Mr Donald Grant, a well-known Domain orator,, declared: "If you can get guns, get hold of them. Ido not say use them; that would be sedition; but get bold of them." One delegate, was applauded for his declaration that a revolution would be a godsend.

The maintenance of a'White Australia was affirmed' as a policy plank, and the suggestion was made that a. special police torce should be established to counteract the All-for-Australia League and the New States movement.

A special committee .was set up to devise means of combating those. It may report to the Attorney-General with a view to ascertaining if the Government possesses power to disband organisations working for the New States and the League

STATE LABOUR POLICY CHANGED STRAIGHT OUT SOCIALISM. (United Press Association—Copyright). (Received This Dav, 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The most important change in the policy decided by the Labour Conference at Sydney is a recommendation to the Easter Conference to jettison the present .State objective, namely, cultivation of an Australian sentiment with full results of their industry to all producers by collective ownership of monopolies and extension of the industrial and economic functions of municipalities in the State. This is to be replaced by straight-out socialisation of production, distribution and exchange. A vigorous campaign to this end is to be undertaken to counter the antiLabour agitation. Disciplinary powers over Labour aldermen and others who are in similar governing positions* is to be made more strict.

I PROVINCIAL COUNCILS URGED.

PLACE OF STATE PARLIAMENTS

SYDNEY, March 15

A meeting of 200 delegates at Wagga confirmed the policy of their Riverma leaders in advocating the abolition of State Parliaments and the substitution of Provincial Councils with wide governing powers under one Australian Parliament.

Mr Charles Hardy (leader of the movement) said the proposed provinces would have sovereign rights within their own borders. Each would be responsible for their own development free of outside interference. Their plans support the Federal basic wage, but insist on the provinces' right to make their own industrial awards.

"We are throwing down the gage of battle to industrial unionism," declared Mr Hardy, "not because we oppose unionism, but it can be a menace or a benefit; to-day it is a definite menace." Each province would possess a constitution unalterable except; by the will of the people, whose claim above all was the right of self-determination in their own affairs.

The police watched the proceedings, and took official shorthand notes of the speeches.

THE INFLATION PROPOSAL.

THE PREMIER'S INDIGNATION

CANBERRA, March 14

Cable messages between Messrs Lyons and Kenton and Mr Scullin while the latter was in England, have now been disclosed. They show that the Prime .Minister was indignant at the inflation proposals and. the appointment of Dr. Evatt and Mr McTiernan to the High Court. He threatened to resign if the appointments were made. Mr Scullin pointed out that since inflation had. been suggested, people at London were making an effort to withdraw moneys invested in Australia, fearing losses through the depreciated currency.

In a further message dealing with the suggestion by the caucus that the holders of maturing bonds should hold

them for a. further period, Mr Scullin said lie did not approve of the proposal, which was repudiation and dishonest. The caucus resolution had demoralised Australian stocks in the London market.

THE "SECRET CABLEGRAMS."

CRITICISM AND A REPLY. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. It is reported that .the Opposition at Canberra is considering moyirig an adjournment in the House to-morrow to discuss the ''secret cables" between Air Scullin and iiessrs Fenton and Lyons.i The contention is that they disclose that after Mr Scullin declared against the appointments to the judiciary his appeal that Cabinet stand firm and await his return was disregarded, and the business of the country taken out of the hands of responsible Ministers and controlled by an outside body. Mr Scullin comments that if publication was intended to discredit the Government it had signally failed. The only one discredit is the man responsible for publication. Anyone who treacherously disclosed confidential communications between Ministers was .too contemptible for words.

In the meantime the "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent says, Labour opinion at Canberra is that Mr Scullin may be persuadedjo throw on the antiLabour elements the .task of governing the country. Mr Curtin, a prominent supporter of Mr Scullin, declares that the Government is impotent owing to treachery on one side and an absolute financial boycott by the banks on the other. Mr 'Lyons contemplates a tour of Australia at Easter to deliver addresses dealing with the economic crisis and recent happenings in Parliament.

MR THEODORE'S EXPULSION,

PROPOSAL TO CONFERENCE

SYDNEY, March 15

The metropolitan conference of the Labour Party decided to recommend the Easter Conference to expel Mr Theodore for his utterances against the New South Wales Executive and the Labour movement. A total of 125 votes was recorded for his expulsion and none against. A few delegates did not vote. Other State members of the Federal Parliament who opposed the Lang plan will also be denied endorsement at the next election. * The debate was warm at times. One delegate who was accused of interrupting while Mr Lang was speaking and was surrounded by angry partisans, had his coat torn off him.

SENATE AND NOTE ISSUE.

LABOUR DISCUSSES ACTION

SYDNEY, March 15

It is understood that Federal Labour ciiwles are discussing a scheme under which, if the Senate rejects the Fiduciary Currency Bill, the divergent section's of the Labour Party may be induced to rejoin forces and appeal to the people for the abolition "of the Senate.

ABOLITION OF UPPER HOUSE.

MINISTRY'S APPEAL DISMISSED

(Received This Day, 1.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day

The Federal High Court, by a majority decision, disallowed the anneal of the New .South Wales Government on the abolition of the "Upper House. Justices Starke; Dixon and Rich held that the State Government was wrong in law and had no right to seek to abolish the Legislative Council. Justices Duffy and McTiernan dissented.

LEFT WING MEMBERS DENOUNCED.

BRISBANE, March 15

The Federal Treasurer {Mr E. G. Theodore) was warmly received when he addressed a large meeting here last night. He explained the measures proposed to meet the financial needs and declared that the Government was not contemplating a wage-slashing campaign . Mr Theodore attacked Mr Beasley and other left wing members from Now South Wales, whom he denounced a? "gramophones for Mr Lang."