NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 10

NOTES OF THE DAY

Much time was spent in Parliament yesterday discussing Mr. J. A. Lee’s Bill for the Abolition of Compulsory Military Training. It is a curious thing that these Labour-Socialist members object to Compulsory Training for the defence of one’s country, while insisting on Compulsory Unionism for the defence of class interests.

Mr. Holland appeared to think he had scored a hit when he pointed out that in 38 of 57 divisions of first-rank importance the Nationalists (who are opposed to the Government) voted with the Government instead of joining forces with the Official Opposition. It does not appear to have occurred to Mr. Holland that in stating this fact he was merety providing evidence of his own failure as Leader of the Opposition to consolidate the opponents of the Government.

Australia’s policy of protecting its home industries by the imposition of almost prohibitive tariffs is having a boomerang effect. One or two British centres, resentful of the shutting out of thenmanufactures, have instituted what amounts practically to a boycott of Australian primary products. The town of Denton, which has a population of 18,000 people who are chiefly engaged in making hats from Australian wool—which hats Australia will not buy—has been the most recent to register its resentment. On the Town Council being approached by the Department of the Secretary of State for the Dominions to grant facilities for advertising Empire goods, it intimated that no Australian goods were to be allowed to lie advettised. If this spirit grows, then Australia may come to rue the day when it decided to bang, bolt, and bar the doors of its markets against those overseas manufacturers who in the past have been customeis of the Commonwealth.