EMPIRE AND AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1923, Page 5

EMPIRE AND AUSTRALIA.

LABOUR AMD RUHR, i KINSHIP'S SILVER THREAD. < i MELBOURNE, August 1. In the discussion in the House of ripreeentatives on Mr. S. M. Bruce'e policy for the Imperial Conference, a variety of views was expressed by the rank and file. 1 Mr. A. Blakeley (Labour) urged the importance of reparations, and said that the first action of the Imperial Conference should be to call an international conference to discuss the Ruhr crisis. ' Mr. Mann put in a plea for free trade instead of the suggested Imperial preferences, declaring that Australia could only take her place among the nations by recognising the principle of interchange of commerce between nations. Mr. Brennan had a tilt at the Empire defence propoeals, saying that it would be better that Australia should pursue a peaceful policy to the point of crucifixion than to associate hereelf in wars of depredation to gain victories of might over right, such as had been seen on the other side of the world. Mr. Scullin declared that Mr. Brace's policy would disintegrate the Empire. The silken ties of kinship had endured many years, and he hoped tfiiat < they i would endure and grow stronger >|ith time. Democracy would endure these silken ties, but not the iron bonds of I imperialism.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)