"IMPERIAL BIAS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 81, 7 April 1931, Page 7

"IMPERIAL BIAS."

labour campaign.

' Empire Day and Flag Ceremonies

Objected To.

MOVEMENT IN N.S.W.

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

(Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day.

Protests against the continued observance of Empire Day and the flag-saluting ceremony in schools are contained in the report of the Advisory Education Committee of the Australian Labour party as'submitted to the Easter Conference.

The Minister of Education, Mr. W. Davies, was instructed to revise the school syllabus, eliminating all ' "Imperial bias" and providing for instruction that would give an "adequate conception of the struggles of the working class in history."

The delegates to the Easter Conference of the New South Wales Labour party at yesterday's session by 65 votes to 35 revoked their decision of the previous evening (carried by 57 votes to 44) to adopt Mr. Lang's three years' plan for the socialisation of industry.

The conference watered down the plan Of socialisation to provide merely for the propagation of the aims and ideals of the branch as set out on Sunday. Labour members a.f Parliament will be invited to "exert their energies toward -the accomplishment of socialisation."

One delegate declared that the plan as adopted was impracticable and would plunge the country into civil war. Another delegate in a fiery speech said ie was prepared to give his blood for the cause. Their slogan should be "Sinn Fein."

Still another delegate claimed that the Socialisation Committee had neither brains nor understanding, nor had it the inclination to plan a practicable scheme of social revolution.

SCULLIN BULWARK.

tj.S. View of Lang Repudiation

Gesture.

LUXURY OF DEFIANCE.

NEW YORK; April 6.

In the course of a leading article headed "Australia Thinks Twice," the "New York Times" says: In the strained domestic situation between, the Commonwealth and New South Wales it is to be strongly suspected that the State is not so savage as might appear. One may conjecture that the militant Lang is pleased at heart that there is a Scullin Ito permit him the luxury of a great gesture of defiance, without incurring the risk of untoward consequences.

Would New., South Wales actually h»ve ventured to refuse to pay the interest-, on her bonds in the hands of British owners if she had not known that the Commonwealth would intervene and assume her repudiated obligation? Beyond that Mr. Lang must have known, as.it now appears, that the central Government has the means of reimbursing itself.

Actually it may be said of the present situation in Australia that compared with the outlook a few montha ago it is distinctly reassuring. Outweighing the gesture of one State in dishonouring its obligations ' is the decisive manner in which the Federal Government has spoken out. and acted. On the other side to-day there is no question as to where Mr. Scullin stands.

SHOCK FOR TRUSTEES.

SERIOUS ASPECT OF DEFAULT. S

LONDON, April 6,

The "Morning Post's" financial editor says a shock has been given to holders of trustee securities by Mr. Lang's repudiation and it is scarcely surprising that the general question of the responsibility incurred by overseas Governments under the Colonial Stock Act should have been raised.

The paper quotes a correspondent who asks, apropos of Mr. Lang, what guarantee is there that similar crises will not arise in future? He points out that it is manifestly impossible for the British Government to permit a person of such financial influence as Mr. Lang, by virtue of his office,, to cause widespread ruin to beneficiaries in what often are smaft estates.