COLD SHOULDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1931, Page 7

COLD SHOULDER.

tANG IN MELBOURNE. N.S.W. Premier Denied Ordinary Courtesies. LYONS' ROUSING RECEPTION. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. The All For Australia League, New South Wales division, has decided to accept the leadership of Mr. J. A. Lyons, while retaining its own political identity. This will give Mr. Lyons a strong hand when he meets Mr. J. G. Latham, the leader of the Federal Opposition, and Dr. Earle Page, the Country party's leader, at Canberra to-morrow. Mr. Lyons had a rousing reception at the Town Hall here when he addressed some 4000 people. Many were unable to get in. Mr. Lang arrived, but was not honoured by the greeting of a single representative citizen. The courtesies ordinarily extended to a distinguished visitor were denied him.

A NATURAL LEADER. Lyons' National Reputation for Honesty. LONDON LOAN ADVISED. ("Times" Cables.) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, April 13. "The Times" applauds the activity of all sections of Australians, comprising the great majority of the nation, who disapprove of Mr. Theodore's and Mr. Lang's policies. Circumstances, says "The Times," made Mr. J. A. Lyons a natural leader. He came through the test while Mr. Scujlin was absent, which gave him a national reputation for honesty, courage and disinterested patriotism. Australians appreciate the courage required for his defiance of the Labour caucus. "Australia cannot weather her difficulties without the help of an external loan," says the "Financial News." "If under Mr. J. A. Lyons' leadership proof can he given that the mistakes of the policies of Messrs. Lang, Scullin and Theodore will be remedied, the sooner a loan is arranged the better. "Nothing can be gained by delay. On the contrary, to defer the necessary assistance is to deprive it of a great part of its value." j

Although it is understood that the Bank of England is not yet inclined to assist an Australian loan, there is a growing feeling among responsible city business men that the British investor is too closely involved in Australia for the bank to withhold much longer its definite constructive financial assistance, without which Australia's difficulties are insoluble. It is considered that if the limits to ■the conditions of such assistance are clearly defined there will be no longer the opportunity for political manoeuv--1 ring and the obscuring of the essential economic facts which, however unpalatable, must determine the situation.

INCREASED DOLE. N.S.W. Adds 25 Per Cent to Idle Payments. ELIMINATING RATION FRAUDS. (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The New South Wales Government lias decided to increase the dole relief by 25 per cent on May 1. This will Involve extra expenditure under this heading of £700,000, bringing the totaj approximately to £2,500,000 for the year. In order to minimise frauds on the i dole, which have been costing the State many thousands of pounds, the Labour Department is inaugurating an elaborate system of identification. Applicants for assistance must give details of their birth and marriage, and properly attested identity proofs will be • required in future.

ANZAC DAY POLL. N.S.W. BY-ELECTION. (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. It has been decided that the Annandale by-election be held on April 25, Anzac Day. Mr. T. R. Bavin, Leader of the Opposition, says: "I cannot understand the- action of the Government in fixing Anzac Day for taking the poll'. I think it must be due to an oversight. I feel sure that the Government would not deliberately flout the feelings of such a large number of people by choosing such a day for the election."

WILL SAVE SCULLIN. BEASLEY GROUP DECISION. SYDNEY, April 13, The Beasley group of Federal politicians held a meeting in the Melbourne express train while going south to assist in Mr. J. T. Lang's campaign. It was decided that two members, Messrs. Lazzarini and Eldridge, should divert their course to Canberra, so as to be in the House at the reopening of Parliament to-morrow, and vote to retain Mr. Scullin'e Cabinet in office, although they will criticise Mr. Theodore's financial proposals.