FEDERAL FINANCES

Evening Star, Issue 21036, 25 February 1932, Page 9

FEDERAL FINANCES

THE ENFORCEMENT BILL HR IVORS WARNS NR lARG Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, CANBERRA, February 24. The Prime Minister, in replying to Mr Lang, said that Mr Bruce was in no way responsible for the Financial Agreement Enforcement Bill which was now before the Federal Parliament. The measure was part of the election campaign, for which the Federal Government has a definite mandate. Mr Bruce was then in England. Mr Lyons warned Mr Lang that ho could not defeat the measure by any methods outlined in his speech yesterday. [ln making a long explanation of Lis attitude in failing to meet the State's interest obligations Mr Lang attacked Mr Bruce, Assistant Federal'Treasurer, declaring that he was responsible for a war on New South Wales, resulting in the Federal Government introducing legislation for the confiscation of another Government’s moneys and property. Mr Lang exclaimed: “If it is war they want they will get it,_ and my, Government will win because its cause is right. We are not going to allow, this State to become the chopping block for biased people like Mr Bruce and tivo Melbourne coterie which is running the Commonwealth Government. My Government has adopted the broad principle of debt postponement, for if everybody during the period or deflation is called upon to pay their debts then bankruptcy is inevitable. Thus we are going in for a policy of debt suspension to enable the people with assets to Te-i trieve the position' when better times arrive.”] LABOUR OPPOSITION.' CANBERRA, February 24.Mr Scullin, the Leader of the Opposition, intimated that the_Labour forces would oppose the Financial Agreement Enforcement Bill, largely on the ground that it contained dangerous principles affecting the States’ rights.