PLIGHT OF AUSTRALIA

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 5

PLIGHT OF AUSTRALIA

WHOLE NATION IS CHAFING FINANCIAL SOLUTION AWAITED LOOSE TALK OP REVOLT. (United Preas Aeaoclatton—By Elect xlu Telegraph Copyright). .SYDNEY, Fob. 20. Another week has passed without a solution being found for Australia’s financial ills and so the terrible suspense goes on, more businesses fail, more companies go into liquidation, empty shops become more numerous and big department stores grow more lifeless, while stark misery is written on the faces of thousands of men, women, youths and girls whose daily quest for employment in the big cities is both hopeless and pathetic. Never was the housewife’s plight more -desperate, never was the landlord’s dilemma more acute.

There is much loose talk of a revolt; but nobody seems capable of explaining what good purpose this would serve. Farmers of the northern and southern portions‘of New South Wales have already begun a revolt against the, Lang administration and from all acounts will not rest until they have made three States of New ‘South Wales. Similarly Queensland and Western Australia desire to secede from tho Federal Union, largely on the ground that New South Wales -wields a dominating influence, capable as in the present crisis of much barm and suffering. These vents are now taking definite shape and may later compel the Government to grant a referendum on the specific question of secession. Thus while all Australia is chafiing, plans to extricate the Commonwealth from the financial morass are still in the melting pot. The conference of .Premiers and Treasurers a week ago adopted a three-year formula for rehabilitation, the conditions of which gave considerable satisfaction, but since then Federal Labour has ' apparently decreed that the Government shall exploit Mr E. G. Theodore’s plan, which is alleged to savour of repudiation. New South Wales has its own special plan which the Press describes as repudiation pure and unadulterated. On that policy it is hoped to win the East Sydney by-election. Confusion having arisen as to the meaning of the caucus’ decree Mr J. H. Scullin hastened to explain to-day that thorised them to continue those negotiations now going on between himself, Mr Theodore and the banks and had authorised them to continue thos negotiations. This declaration removed the apprehension that what the caucus desired was the adoption of the Theodore proposal for the restoration of the 1929 1 currency levels. The -House of Representatives will meet on March 4, by when the Prime Minister should be able to gauge the measure of support he is likely to receive from his party. The “Sun” representative at Canberra says the chief question is no longer what legisaltion the iSeullin Government will submit to Parliament, but whether the Government will survive the inevitable no-confidence motion. He adds that the Minister can no longer count definitely upon the support of the majority of members of the House. The recently-resigned Ministers, Mr J. A. Lyons and Mr J. E. Fenton, and possibly Mr McGrath will probably cross the floor.

Mr Lyons says he is disturbed and disgusted. “The party is hopelessly divided. When one section indicates a plan of reconstruction it becomes the target for another. I do not wish to see the party hopelessly split, but whatever action I take I shall place the country first. ’ ’ Other Labour Federal members declare their confidence in the Prime Minister has completely broken down. Movements are on foot throughout Australia at the present moment direct, ed towards the restoration of Australia’s political integrity and financial stability. Big meetings have been held at Sydney and Melbourne. In South Australia and Queensland citizens’ leagues have been formed and they are bound to exercise a telling influence on the present and future Government. Bankers from other States arrived at Melbourne yesterday to attend a conference convened by the Prime Minister on the financial situation, only to receive telegrams from Mr Scullin suggesting the postponement of the conference till Monday. It was later decided to hold the conference to-morrow. All the city newspapers in Melbourne are held up by the machine hands, who resent the 15 per cent, wage cut. The “Argus,” the “Age,” the “Sun” and the "Pictorial” all hope to issue small papers in the morning.