AT LOGGERHEADS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11405, 5 January 1931, Page 7

AT LOGGERHEADS

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

A SPLIT CERTAIN

Whatever compromise may he readied betAveen; the moderates avliq are behind the Federal Cabinet in financial matters and the extremists _ in the Labor movement in Australia, it is certain that a- definite split cannot bo avoided for long (says an Australian paper). The Labor Party is definitely divided into two camps and as a divided force cannot last. It is also, certain that tho extremists Avho. are advocating Avliat is clearly a repudiation of debts and inflation are. out of touch .with real .public opinion in Australia, but it cannot be denied that. they, have many, supporters among . the unthinking, multitude. Honest people naturally recoiled at any proposal Australia should say to the holders of bonds in' tho . £27,000,000 loan that fell , duo : “We. will not pay you for a year. Run away and do not Avorry us.” Yet that is the instruction that Avas given to the Cabinet by the Federal Labor caucus. *Tho move was inspired by Mr. Anstey, avlio is someAA’hat of a fanatic in matters financial.. He struck a severo bloAv at the credit of Australia. . • !

; lloAve\ r er, it soon transpired ihat tlie extremists Avere not. ready to force a general election. Meanwhile the industrial section that, controls • the, Labor movement in ; New -South Wales will continue its battle to get on' top;’ in tho Federalsphere .also.' The Now' South .Wales Tracies Council, has for months been.- complaining that, the,State has not .sufficient representation bn; the Cakinet,. but Mi;. Scullin lias not/ been inclined to,take much notice of it. .This has been annoying, to- say the least of it, so it ,is not .. surprising that-' efforts are . made to, embarrass the .. .Prime Minister, even when his hack, is turned.. v ..- , . ; ; The fact -that the Labor Cabinet has to contend with a hostile . Senate may ultimately - save Australia . from disgrace should the extremists by. any chance secure tlie upper hand apd attempt to force • inflation and repudiation upon the country. The Senate. can defeat , any measure the Labour Party, likes to proyhice. ; The. only -way to ; overcome this position Avill be for - the . Government to seeka/double dissolution, Ayhich- would ije: granted only after disagreement/- is ‘‘eO'mplete;’. »A> v ithiri- ■ • tho meaning of : the Constitution. Mdnths must- ekapse. before the-stage ;of completion is reached, arid it would not be possible to : hrihg about a‘ dissolution; before'. May next, • at the earliest,, oven if the first stalge;- were entered- upori right away:’, In the meantime, therefore, the hark of the extremistsis worse..tliah their bite.