POLICY TRENDS IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 21, 19 October 1944, Page 5

POLICY TRENDS IN AUSTRALIA

Control Of Industry

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright./ (Special Australian Correspondent.}, (Received October 18, 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 18.

Next session of the Federal Parliament, beginning on November 15, is expected to last only three weeks. It will include a secret sitting to discuss Avar developments and the use of Australia’s manpower. Parliament will then adjourn till February, when the new session will have a full-dress opening by the Duke of Gloucester as Governor-General. Before the November session members of the Labour caucus will meet to discuss the principles which should guide the Federal Government in formulating post-war reconstruction policy. Some observers suggest that since Mr. Curtin became Prime Minister the traditional caucus control of Cabinet has been only halfheartedly exercised. An important item for discussion by caucus meeting will be post-war industrial control and the future of the Commonwealth munitions plants. The defeat of the referendum has prevented the Labour Party from implementing its plan of national ownership of industry. It has been suggested’ that the referendum decision can be circumvented by collaboration between the Commonwealth and the States concerned to conduct each industry as a State enterprise. There is no constitutional ban on trading by State Governments, such as applies to the Commonwealth. Already one such arrangement has been reached between the Commonwealth and Tasmania for the manufacture of aluminium in Tasmania at a State factory established with Federal financial aid.

A review of personal taxation is also believed to be pending. When the caucus accepted this year’s Budget it was understood that the possibility of a reduction in taxes on lower incomes would be discussed half-way through this financial year.