AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 October 1925, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

OR CHAOS.. MR RRUCE SETS THE ISSUES. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIIIGT. MELBOURNE, Oct. o. The Federal Prime Minister (Mr S. M. Bruce) delivered a policy speech at Dandenong. “The present time is critical for Australia,’ Mr Bruce declared. “The country is at the turning point in its national history, and is on the eve of the greatest opportunity ever offered to a people. The ideal of the Government policy is to have a united people with a national vision, knowing no distinction between town and country, employer and employed. “The Government is determined to defeat the nefarious plans of the extremists in our midst, and, armed with a mandate of the people, will take all the necessary steps to accomplish this end. Although under the constitution there is King’s peace in the Commonwealth, which co-exists with King’s peace in each of the States, to date there has been little need for the Commonwealth to take action for its preservation.

“The time lias now arrived when the Commonwealth Parliament should exercise its powers to pass, effective legislation to deal with offences against the peace of the Commonwealth, including action against persons who are actively engaged in propaganda to overthrow the constitution.”

Referring to defence, Mr Bruce said Australia would support every practical effort made by the League ,of Nations to guarantee/the world’s peace and bring about disarmament, but until this was brought about the Government stood for the greatest measure of defence compatible with the man power and financial resources of the nation. Mr Bruce then outlined the naval programme already announced, and in addition the army programme, which contemplates the provision of five infantry divisions and two cavalry divisions, with the necessary munitions and equipment. The air force would also be substantially, expanded. Referring to relations with England, Mr Bruce said: “The Government stands wholeheartedly for the maintenance of the British Empire. It only asks one thing, and that is to be treated as a partner and not as an appendage to the Empire.” Dealing with domestic policy, Mr Bruce stated that the Government was determined to provide the people with a standard of living which would give the workers reasonable . comfort and happiness, but these things could not be accomplished unless there was industrial peace. Unfortunately there were in Australia men striving to foment industrial strife, class war and direct action. The influence of these men must be ruthlessly destroyed. Dealing with the question of working hours, Mr Bruce said: “The Government desires a solution on a basis satisfactory to the . workers, but. considers that hours should be uniform throughout th© Commonwealth. It is, therefore, proposed to suggest that this question should be submitted to the Commonwealth "and State Arbitration Court judges, with a view to their making a recommendation for uniform hours for the Commonwealth, which should he considered by a conference of representatives of the Commonwealth and State Governments.

“The question of child endowment is also a national one, and the Government proposes to refer it to the Commonwealth and State Arbitration Court judges with a. view to a similar policy being evolved. The _ Government _ wiil also introduce legislation for a national scheme of social insurance, covering questions of old age and invalidity and unemployment. The Government will introduce a measure for the purpose of utilising the machinery of the Commonwealth Bank for giving assistance, not only to manual workers, but also to people of small means to acquire their own homes on a basis of repayment extending over a long period of years. “The Government stands firmly for the principle of the peaceful settlement of industrial disputes by arbitration, and will legislate restoring to the trade unionist control over his union, its officials and its funds. By means of .the provision of the secret ballot the democratic control of unionism will be restored.

“Workers’' powers on the Arbitration Court will also be strengthened by means of legislation providing judicial appointments for life, vesting the court with judicial power to enforce its awards and better control of the parties under its jurisdiction. Provision will also be made to prevent the overlapping of the Commonwealth and State industrial authorities.”

Dealing with the questions of transport, Mr Bruce said: “The Government proposes to hold further conferences of the States with a view to arriving at a scheme for the provision of a uniform railway gauge.” Outlining the policy of national road development, Mr Bruce said the Government would make available £20,000,000, spread over 10 years, for the development of roads. This would be derived from a tax on motor users. It would also call a conference of _ the States and the Commonwealth, with a view to laying down a national policy for the development and control of the poi'ts and harbours of Australia.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister said: “The paramount issue of the present campaign is the maintenance of law and order and the supremacy of constitutional government over the efforts of the wreckers who would plunge the country into chaos, misery and class war.’i