AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 20721, 18 February 1931, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS

THE FINANCIAL SITUATION TREASURER CALLS CONFERENCE OF BANKS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, February 18. (Received February 18, at 9 a.m.) Invitations have been issued by the Fedora reasurer (Mr Theodore) to the general managers of the principal trading banks of Australia to meet him and representatives of the Commonwealth Bank in conference at Melbourne on Friday on the general financial situation. NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

CAMPAIGN FOR SEPARATE STATE

SYDNEY, February 17

Launching a campaign for a new State in the northern portion of New South Wales’, Dr Earle Page, a former Federal Treasurer and Leader of the Australian Country Party, in a speech at Glenreagh to-night, said that the farmers could no longer submit to the insidious domination of the extreme Labour element in Sydney. He declared that if the New South Wales Government defaulted to bond-holders, as intended, this State would automatically put itself outside the Federal union. Mr Lang would be unable to obtain further credit from the banks, and he would have to adopt some emergency form of currency. The people in the north had no desire to be associated with Mr Lang's dishonourable repudiation scheme, and were preparing to cut adrift from New South Wales. They intended to appeal to the Federal Government for recognition as a State under the Federal Union and for a provisional Government pending the adjustment of boundaries and liabilities', and parliamentary sanction. An appeal would also be made to the British Government for assistance in carrying out their object under the Separation Act of 1850.

MR BAVIN'S CENSURE MOTION

SYDNEY, February 17,

In the Legislative Assembly Mr T. 11. Bavin, the Leader of the Opposition, gave notice of his intention to launch*a censure motion against the Lang Ministry in connection with the repudiation proposals enunciated by the Premier at Canberra. CHAOS IN FEDERAL LABOUR ARENA DEADLOCK OYER SYDNEY BYELECTION. SPDNEY, February 18. (Received February 18, at 10 a.m.) 'The Federal a- ’ r: tate Labour Parties are still deadlocked over the East Sydney by-election, the conference last night ending after a hitter discussion wtihout a decision; but it is understood that the State faction is determined to conduct the campaign on the Lang plan, with Mr Beasley (Federal Assistant Minister) as the opening speaker to-night instead of the Prime Minister. Political circles begin to feel that the chaos in the Federal arena can only be cleared by a general election. The caucus of the Federal labour Parliamentary Party at Canberra today is expected to reach a momentous decision relative to the rival Theodore Lang financial policies. At a meeting of the Australian Couu eil of Trad© Unions the secretary (Mr Cross), dealing with unemployment, said that the political machine was in adequate to cope with the situation. The only means of securing a satisfactory result would he a declaration by the Federal Government of a national emergency enabling the Arbitration Court decisions to be overridden so that the workers could obtain whatever Industrial conditions they desired. At to-day’s session a motion for a general strike is expected to he sub rnitted, which it is believed will have strong support, though it is doubtful :f it will be carried. WAR DEBT INTEREST STATEMENT BY MR SNOWDEN. LONDON, February 17. (Received February 18, at 11 a.m.) Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Mr Snowden said that no communication had been received regarding the Australian war »debt. Ml SNOWDEN ANSWERS QUESTIONS LONDON, February 17. (Received February 18, at 12,55 p.m.) In the House of Commons Mr Snowden had a busy quarter of an hour answering questions in relation to the abatement of Australia’s war debt to Britain. The most direct was the query: “What proposals had reached him for a revision of the terms?” Mr Snowden: “ I have not received any communication thereon.”

Mr G. Mander: “ Will you point out to the Australian Government that if the question arises Britain is in no position to make any concession?” Sir N. Gratton Doyle: “ Will you also remember that these questions are most mischievous?” Mr Snowden did not reply.

Mr Wise questioned the relative receipts of war debts from the Allies and the dominions, also Britain’s payments to America.

Mr Snowden, amplifying his previous reply, said: “Our payments to the United States for tho year ID3I-32 amounted to £33,550,000. our receipts from the dominions were £7,053,000.” Mr Wise: “Are wo to assume that the Balfour formula regarding the repayments of allied war debts was not included in the amounts paid to us from the dominions ?/l

HUSH OF A GREAT TRAGEDY LABOUR LEADER’S SPEECH. SYDNEY, February 18. (Received February IS, at 11.5 a.m.) Addressing the A.C.T.U. Congress, the President (Mr Duggan) said they met in a hush that foretold a great tragedy. A quarter of a million Australians were on the verge of starvation, and many more were in danger of being crashed by the weight of the power of tho machinery they themselves had created. The Press, the pulpit, and the courts denied men a decent standard of living and forced them to endure many tortures. They looked to Labour to regain for them their lost employment and standard of living.

GENERAL STRIKE PROPOSAL SYDNEY, February 18. (Received February IS, at 11.5 a.m.) Supporters of the general strike proposal, to be submitted to-day, are reported to fear that if the congress passes a resolution calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency, and the Government refuses, tho New South Wales Premier may make a drastic move to declare a state of national emergency in this State, which would counter a general strike.

FORECLOSURE SALES BOYCOTT OP AUCTIONEERS. SYDNEY, February 18. (Received February IS, at 12.5 p.m.) The Fanners’ and Settlers’ Association in the Forbes district passed a resolution in favour of boycotting auctioneers attempting to hold foreclosure sales. HOSPITAL IN DEBT DRASTIC RETRENCHMENT. SYDNEY, February 18. (Received February 18, at 11.35 a.m.) Hampered by an overdraft of £105,000 and tradesmen’s debts amounting to £14,000, the directors of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital decided drastically to retrench the staff and close a number of beds. The annua! cost of running the hospital is £130,000, of which the Government contributes £66,000, Henceforth only urgent and casualty cases will be admitted till the position improves.