FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 24 February 1931, Page 9

FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

FEDERAL CABINET DISCUSSION

CIVIL SERVANTS’ SALARIES QUESTION OF REDUCTION. '.United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) Received 12.30 p.m. to-day. MELBOURNE, Feb. 24.

After a four-hour Cabinet meeting the Prime Minister (Mr J. H. Scullin) was reticent but denied that the Ministry was likely to accede to the demand for a reduction in public seivic salaries, remarking that the suggestions thereanent were mere kiteflying. , _, . . He declared that the Cabinet was not an emergency one but was called merely to discuss the financial situation. He also declined to say whethei Mr Beasley had been invited. Mr Scull in said he had not heard of a circular letter sent by the New South Wales Australian Labour Party urging State and Federal Labourites to” support the Lang plan, adding that he could not say if he would take action thereon. It is rumoured that the Government will agree to the banks’ demand for a reduction of civil .servants salaries and allowances but will suggest postponing for one year the question of the cutting Bill for old age, invalid and war pensions.

NEW STATE MOVEMENT. DR. E-ARLEi PAGE’S VIEWS. Received 12.30 p.m. to-day. SYDNEY, Feb. 24. Speaking at Grafton, Du Earle Page said that Air Lang had been made dictator of New South Males and was steadily and relentlessly puisnincr a policy of destruction of capital and private assets by taxation that could not be paid out of income. Everv effort was directed towards Communism and State ownership, with repudiation as the copingstone ot the work to damage Australia. “If New South Wales refuses to pay her interest instalments it automatically breaks from the Federation. Ihe North wont be content to remain with the repudiationists and, therefore must withdraw therefrom and form a new State, as West Virginia did in 1861, when Virginia infringed the constitution and placed herself outside the Union.” The scheme of government lie suggested was a simplified legislature of 15 to 30 members, paid only for .sitting days.