PROSPEROUS AUSTRALIA

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 January 1930, Page 4

PROSPEROUS AUSTRALIA

LTTTLE HARDSHIP EXISTS

LEGISLATOR ’S COMMENT

(By Telegraph— Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 14

The Hon. Robert Sproule, M.L.C., New South Wales, arrived by the Marama from Sydney to-dav. 'in an interview he said the new ‘tariff had been accepted without much demur. Australia had determined to persist in the policy of a high protective tariff. Speaking generally, he said, there was no occasion ror pessimism in New South Wales. On the whole, the people, were prosperous. Ther c was not much hardship. He believed Labour would, remain in office for a protracted period. It was hi s conviction the elected State legislature .would, next year, reveal a big swing in favour of Labour. Referring to the coal trouble, Mr. Sproule said that law and order had to be maintained, and iio power could stand against a government; but the action of the Nationalist Government upon the present crisis would be pronounced upon by the people as a whole next year. He would not blame Mr. Bavin altogether, as he did not believe the Premier was solely responsible.

When invited to comment on the suggestion that State Parliaments might be abolished, Mr. Sproule said the system of unification would ultimately be introduced. The existing system was intolerable. Uultimatelv State Parliaments must be eliminated, because they were limited in the field of taxation and were yet compelled to carry on essential ‘ non-producing services, such as departments of justice, with courts and gaols, and an education system. All such services could be better controlled uniformly. On the whole, the State Parliaments were were gradually being won over to this view.