MINERS' ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 7

MINERS' ARMY.

NEWCASTLE FORCE.

Workers Meet "Dictatorship"

Threat.

MANY RETURNED SOLDIERS.

(United P.A.-Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

The "Labour Daily" reports that the miners of the Newcastle districts have endorsed the creation of a Workers' Defence Army, numbering 5000 of the present unemployed. These include many returned soldiers who, according to the miners' vice-presi-dent, Mr. Kellock, "Will make their presence felt when the crucial moment arrives. "The peoplo behind the meetings for the formation of a new State in the Riverina and northern areas are organising for a military dictatorship, and the industrial movement accepts the challenge." An Adelaide message states that Mr. Bagot, organiser, of the Citizens' League of South Australia, estimates that Mr. J. A. Lyons will have an organisation throughout Australia with a membership of 2,000,000 behind him if the conference of the league and its kindred associations is successful.

FOR TWO YEARS ONLY.

Operation of N.S.W. Interest Reduction Bill. STAMP DUTY INCREASE. (Received' 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The New South Wales Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, states that his interest reduction plan will operate for only two years, when he expects the country to have sufficiently recovered to enable its discontinuance. A bill increasing the stamp duties is believed to be pending in the Assembly this week.

FRENCH RETALIATION.

DUTY ON AUSTRALIAN GOODS

(" Times " Cables.) (Received 11 a.m.)

LONDON, March 22.

The Paris correspondent of "The Times" states that the Chamber's Customs Committee has submitted a report in favour of converting into law the decree of January 15, 1930, imposing special duties on Australian wheat and butter.

The report recalls Australia's recent retaliation of increased duties on French luxury goods, and points out that it is impossible to retaliate against Australian wool as this would prejudice the French textile industry.

ON VERGE OF REVOLT.

OPINIONS OP AUSTRALIA. (Received 10 a.m.) HONOLULU, March 22. Passengers on the Sierra and the Niagara, en route to U.S.A. from Australia, told newsmen that.the Commonwealth was on the verge of a revolution. They refused to permit the use of their names but one officer of the Sierra said warships were standing by.