CANBERRA PACT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 134, 4 December 1944, Page 6

CANBERRA PACT

TOOL OF SOCIALISM

FEARS IN AUSTRALIA

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 1 p.m. SYDNEY, December 4. The rejection at the referendum last August of the Federal Government's request for increased powers might be nullified by the recent discussions between the Australian and New Zealand Governments, said the Leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr. R. G. Menzies. The discussions between the two Labour Governments were of immense significance.

The Federal Attorney-General and Minister of External Affairs, Dr. H. V. Evatt, had never made any secret of his opinion that the Commonwealth could make a treaty or agreement with another country and then -give legislative effect to it. Mr. Menzies said that Dr. Evatt believed the Commonwealth could do this under its external affairs powers. Mr. Menzies recalled that in his statement on international affairs last week Dr. Evatt said that Australia and New Zealand had agreed to- press strongly for an international agreement binding themselves to pursue "domestic policies aimed at full employment."

If the Australian Parliament was to be treated as having full power to make laws for full employment, then very few matters put forward by it at the referendum would be beyond its powers.

"Almost any law could be justified o.n the ground that it had some bearing upon employment, and as to Labour members employment means Government jobs the inference of Socialism is complete," Mr. Menzies added.

"The whole outlook suggests a spectacular and unprecedented attempt to evade the decision of the Australian people. It is all of a piece that the session which has. just ended should have found the Government now safely in possession of its majority in both Houses announcing a programme of active Socialism. Airlines are to be nationalised. Unquestionably, in the New Year there will be very drastic banking legislation. "Without any change in the Constitution, the Government can proceed to deal with insurance and commercial broadcasting."