UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 9

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

->——♦- POSITION IN AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE £10,000,000 Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, April 14. The Commonwealth Government has decided to provide £10,000,000 for unemployed relief work. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A'. Lyons), in making this announcement at the Premiers’ Conference this afternoon, said that the gravity of the position was revealed m the report of the Expert Committee. He appealed to all the Premiers to try and pull together and make rehabilitation possible. TERMS OF LOAN, GOVERNMENT FAVOURS HIGH EXCHANGE. MELBOURNE, April 15. (Received April 15, at 10 a.m.) Mr Lyons made it plain that the £10,000,000 loan would be subject to all States giving a definite guarantee that the terms of the Premiers’ Plan and the Expert Committee’s proposals would be carried out. Mr Lyons said the Government approved of the recommendation of the committee that the State Governments should compel a reduction in rates of interest paid by private individuals, as contemplated in the Premiers’ Plan. Cabinet approved of the proposal to set up an honorary Federal employment council and six similar councils in the States The Federal Government agreed with the recommendation thaat the exchange should be increased to bridge part of the gap between costs and prices. It also agreed that the exchange rate be controlled by the Commonwealth Bank and free from political control. The Premiers’ Plan had estimated that the Government deficits for 1931-32 would be £13,000,000. They actually would amount to £18,000,000. Mr Lang listened attentively to the Prime Minister’s speech. He asked no question, and took no part in the debate. Later Mr Lang stated that he would oppose the proposal to reduce wages.