FEDERAL POLITICS

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1931, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

NON-LABOURITE MOVE i For a Dissolution

I (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) CANBERRA, April 24. When the Commonwealth Bank Bill was in committee, Mr Scullin sad that god must be sent away to meet our commitments, in London. otherwise Australia would be in serious danger of imminent default. The purpose of this Bill it to allow for the .abolition of the gold reserve uf fiften million pounds. The second leading of the Bill was carried by nineteen votes to seventeen. The Senate deferred the second reading of the Central Reserve Bank Bill for six month-, which is tantamount, to a direct rejection of the Bill. I which has already been before the Senate for over six months. The deliberations of the Loan Council now meeting, are expected to produce vital decisions upon financial issues. Mr Lang was again absent but the discussion already revealed the peculiarly embarrassing position of his State and the other States, which are indebted to the Westminister Bank (London). Mr Theodore surprised th? meeting by suggesting a twelve mil-ion loan be raised in Australia. To-night \s discussion was largely a survey of the financial outlook. ( Sir Robert Gibson, Chairman of the ' Commonwealth Bank, attends the ! meeting on Sunday, when it will be possible for the Council to formulate plans for the future. The Premier of South Australia (Mr Hil'.) described the situation which i faces Australia as extremely grave owing to the financial drift and terrific unemployment. He contended that , emergency measures must b? applied. | SYDNEY, April 24. Officials of the Commonwealth Savings Bank began an investigation into the affairs of the Government Savings Bank, in order that the proposed legislation dealing with the absorption be facilitated. The President of the Bank (Mr Hill) said that the investigation would take time but it was probable an arrangement would be made parly next week to relieve the necessitous cases amongst State Bank depositors. ADELAIDE, April 25. Simultaneous public indignation meetings are being planned throughout the Commonwealth within the next fortnight with the object of petitioning the Governor-General to dissolve the Federal Parliament on the ground that it is inoperative, owing to the impossibility of reconciling the House of Representatives with the Senate. SYDNEY, April 24. Efforts ar? being made in Sydney to bring about unity of action among the various political parties opposed to the extremist forces i"i the community. A similar effort was m. last week, to co-ordinate the antiextremist parties i n Federal politics. The National Party is willing to extend the utmost co-operation to the All for Australia League, and the Country Party is prepared to enter into an agreement provided its separate entity is respected, and that it has a fair representation in any composite Ministry, if one is formed. The basic policy on which all parries agreed are. (1) Economy of administration advised by the conference of Premiers in Melbourne; (2) Uncompromising opposition to inflation and any form of repudition. All parties are unanimous that restoration of can be achieved in no other way than by the adoption of this policy. A conference will be held at Sydney, attended by representatives of the Federal and Sfate National Parties. Country ParM*. All for Australia League, National Union and Victorian [ National Party. The aim of the conl ference is to ensure at the next elections there ‘ hall be a united front to I the extremist forces, which the parties believe will endeavour, apart from j direct repudiation .to bring about inflation of currency, with all its attendant misery.

DEPOSITION OF LAND MOOTED. | (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY. April 25. Recent political events in New South Wales, culminating in the Savings Bank sensation, have, it is stated, intensified bitterness against the Lang Administration. It is now reported that a section of his colleagues are seeking Mr Lang’s dismissal from Premiership, as, in the event of a sudden election, several country Labourites fear they will lose their seats. Mr Lang, meanwhile, remains silent. He will bo difficult to shift. Having been appointed leader for the full session, he cannot be deposed by the Caucus, except with the sanction of the Party’s Executive of the Trades Hall. Actually, he has the powers of a dictator. His friends declare that the talk of displacing him is purely propaganda, emanating from the Theodore party.