OUT OF HAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1936, Page 14

OUT OF HAND.

I INTERNAL REVOLT.

PARTY CONVENTION

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April 23. Mr. Stevens is by this time in London and lie probably knows what happened fit the United Australian party's annual convention last week. If he could have been "listening in" while the conference ■was in full swing one fears that his holiday might have been completely epoiled.

The Nationalists, in the absence of the Premier, see me 1 to get completely out of hand, and after much tumultuous discussion, they carried a long series of resolutions which can hardly fail to produce a painful impression on Mr. Stevens when they are submitted to him. The acting-Premier. Sir. Spooner, is probably more unpopular and certainly less able than his leader, and his •attempts to stem the tide of revolt •ended, for the most part, in undignified -failure. Loves a Fight. A spirit of rebellion seemed to have ■spread itself abroad in the L'.A.P. ranks, and Mr. Weaver, who dearly loves a fight, must have enjoyed himself 'extremely. He would be something more or less than human if he did not cherish some resentment at the shabby way in "which Mr. Stevens ejected him from the Cabinet last year,' and there was a strong tinge of personal feeling in his "tone when he moved a resolution to the effect 'that in future State Ministers must not be cliasen by the Premier, but elected'by the members of the Nationalist partv in the House of Representatives. His allusions to "vested interests" and to the pressure brought upon Premiers to clioose ISliiiislers agreeable to certain sections of the community "were loudly applauded, and his proposal •was carried bv a very large majority. mile Mr. Weaver was, from the eontrovejsial standpoint, the most inteiesting figure in the conference, the constructive statesmanship of the party -was most ablv represented by Sir F. Stewart. This able and experienced "'captain of industry," always a friend to the wage-earner, has come back from his European tour intent on two projects—the establishment of a 40-hour "week, and the adoption of national insurance by the" Commonwealth. His advocacy of* these -reforms, has been so persistent that it Tsecame impossible for him to remain in a Cabinet deeply tinctured with Conservatism; and his receiit resignation of his position as Federal Secretary for Unemployment left him able to make the best use of his opportunities at last week's conference.

Eager Applause. His speeches in favour of the 40-hour ■week and of national insurance were eagerly applauded, and i when Mr. Spooner characteristically reproved him for his "revolutionary" <■ views, he ■ was rudely requested toy some of-the delegates to "get out." Ultimately these two proposals were adopted by large majorities, and the N.A.P. has thus committed itself to the support of an extremely progressive scheme of economic and social betterment.

Not content with carrying tliese resolutions, the conference decided to ■urge the matters in question upon the notice of the Federal Government. The natural result has been that our newspapers are at last taking up these problems in sober earnest; and while "Truth," which has always advocated these reforms* is triumphing at the prospect of victory, even-the "Daily Telegraph"—no doubt with a full sense of its newly acquired' responsibilities—lias begun to ask editorially —though in somewhat hesitating tone's—"why not a 40-hour week ?"

The "Milk Barons." ' Other interesting "highlights" of the conference were the debate on the 'milk question and the protest against "gov* ernment by regulation." ■. As to milk, the conference gave the) critics of "the Milk Barons" a field day, which they utilised to the full. Some very strong language was heard about the Milk Board, its chairman, Mr. Hamilton, and the report of Mr. Sharid, the Royal Commissioner who scarified the board and its methods so cruelly three years ago. In the end they passed resolutions which, "while expressing contempt for the'proposed Milk Bill, in effect demanded that the Government should- at once "safck the board and amend the Act" on the lines long advocated by "Truth" and other local newspapers. The protest against "government by regulation" was proposed by Mr. Hawkins, once a fervid supporter of Mr. Stevens, and it was manifestly aimed at the Premier and his autocratic methods. All along the line there was evident a strong desire to criticise the Government in regard to matters of policy and methods of administration aswell.

The Inner Group. A further indication of the f strong personal feeling aroused by the dictatorial attitude of Mr. Stevens and the "inner group" of the party was the strongly expressed criticism directed against Sir Philip Goldfinch. At the Gordon by-election last year this, candidate was practically-forced upon . the constituency by the fist of th.e Premier and his personal advisers against strong local opposition. Now Sir P. Goldfinch has gone Home on a long visit—apparently to attend' to the business of the Colonial Sugar Refining Co., ■which he helps to direct—and his constituents are angrily asking why their interests are being neglected.

The references to this "Johnny-comc-latelv" and the protests against "the forcible disfranchisement of the Gordon electors" would have been no less- distasteful to Mr. Stevens than to Sir F. Goldfinch. But the general impression produced by this conference was that the U.A.P. here is in a highly chaotic condition, that many of its members have lost confidence in their leader and his policy, and that the warning thai "Lang cannot win elections for lis for ever" may soon be fulfilled if Mr. Stevens cannot restore discipline and inspire loyalty in time.