AUSTRALIA'S AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 11

AUSTRALIA'S AFFAIRS.

DIFFERENCES IN CABINET. DELICATE POSITION EXISTS. (UHl'ikD TRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELICTHIC TZLEQBAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 4th, 12.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 3. The Federal Cabinet is still divided en the question of calling Parliament together. The position, is described as exceedingly delicate, with the likelihood of a crisis. Mr Scullin has been notified of the position by cablegram. CABINET DELIBERATIONS. CANBERRA, September 3. No final decision on the adjustment of Commonwealth finances was reached at a meeting of the Federal Cabinet, but the deliberations made it clear that the Prime Minister (Mr J. H. Scullin) will not be recalled to Australia from Colombo, where he arrives to-dav. There is a strong disinclination to call together the Federal Parliament before his return. It is claimed that Hie Commonwealth's financial position can bo improved by methods other than effecting the economies which would be the object of the meeting of Parliament. It is said that the meeting resolved itself into a discussion between the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr J. E. Fenton) and the Acting-Treasurer (Mr J A. Lyons) on the one side, and the remainder of thosp present on the other side. _ Further consideration of the position was postponed until Friday.

FURTHER RETRENCHMENT. RAILWAYMEN REFUSE RATIONING. (Received September 3rd, 7.50 p.m.) SYDNEY. September 3. Further retrenchment is now being applied to the railway employees of New South Wales, G56 locomotive cleaners receiving notice of immediate dismissal owing to their refusal to accept rationing. In addition, 200 locomotive drivers are to be reduced to firemen, and 400 firemen are being reduced to cleaners.

DEFICIT OF £5,000,000 LIKELY.

Received September 4th, 12.50 a.m.)

SYDNEY, September 3,

The State Treasurer, Mr Stevens, announced that the deficit on the New South Wales railways and tramways for the current year was likely to amount to £5,000,000. QUEENSLAND SUGAR INDUSTRY. PROSPEROUS CONDITIONS REPORTED. (Received September 3rd, 7.50 p.m.)

SYDNEY September 3,

Mr J. G. Latham. Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament, has returned from a visit to the sugar districts of Queensland.

He said that he found that the people who were engaged in the industry were very prosperous. The majority were prepared to accept a reduction in the amount of assistance now given owing to the depressed conditions.

BRITISH AID SUGGESTED.

AUSTRALIA'S WAR SERVICE.

(Received September 3rd, 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 2.

The "Daily Mail, 1 ' in a leader on Australia's plight, urges sympathetic consideration. It points out that any aid given by the British Government to Australia in this crisis ot her history would be warmly approved. Australia, which had stood by the Empire, had rendered magnificent service in the time of war. She bore every penny of her war costs and had a special claim for any appeal on her behalf to enable her to tide over the difficult period of self-sacrifice and reconstruction.

RAILWAY DEFICITS. OVER A MILLION IN VICTORIA. (Received September 3rd, 9.20 p.m.) MELBOURNE, September 3. The Victorian Railway Commissioners' report to the Legislative Assembly disclosed a deficit of £1,037,000 for the year. PERTH, September 3. The deficit of the Western Australian Railways for the year is £400.000. MR SCULLIN'S HEALTH IMPROVED. HIS MISSION ABROAD. (Received September 3rd, 11.38 p.m.) COLOMBO, September 3. The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. H. Scullin) is much improved in health. He was on the Orama's deck for a few hours on Sunday, but iain kept him in his cabin on Monday. In an interview he said that the important aspect of his mission abroad was to show that Australia was a solvent nation and prepared to pay every penny it owed. It was essential in the national interests that Australia's Budget should be balanced. He appealed to all sections of the community to support the Acting-Prime Minister. Mr J. E. Fenton and his colleagues. The news of the Federal Cabinet crisis was received by Mr Scullin while ho was lunching at a seaside hotel. He was much concerned.