APPEALING TO ELECTORS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 26 May 1932, Page 5

APPEALING TO ELECTORS

New South Wales Campaign PREMIER OUTLINES POLICY Provision For Unemployed DESPOTISM TO EE CURBED COUNCIL RECONSTITUTION (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 25.

The Premier (Mr B. S. B. Stevens) to-night at Croydon, delivered the Government’s policy .speech, which was endorsed by the Country Party leader (Mr M. Bruxiier) fropi the same pla.t----t orni.

Mr Stevens warned the electors' that a return of the Lang regime would bring Australia face to face with civil war and break up the Federal -union. He was of the opinion the country had had enough of that rebellious administration. Already peace and harmony liad been restored in industry and private life. Full encouragement was being given to private enterprise and trade restrictions were being removed in order- that as many people as possible could be re-absorbed in employment.

Tlie Government pledged itself to. honour and faithfully carry out the Premiers’ plan and to' work with the Commonwealth and other States as a United Australia instead of as wrangling units. Nq efforts would be spared to arrest the financial drift and restore public confidence. The floating debt of the State had risen to £31,000,000 for which scarcely a pennyworth of assets could he shown. The drift had been continuing at the rate of £10,000,000 a -year thanks to the bankrupt policy of Langism.

Relief works would be provided asj speedily as possible in order to get the men into work and off the dole. Financial add was already assured for this and the development of reproductive works. No attempt would be made to interfere with the basic wage or working hours, which matters would be left entirely to the Arbitration Courts. The Government would extend the moratorium for three years and would continue the present social services intact. Legitimate trade unionism would be recognised and encouraged; despotic unionism would be curbed, as would be all seditious organisations.

The Legislative Council would be reconstituted by reducing the mem'bers'hip ond making it a truly deliberative House, representative of all sections of the community and a proper House of review.

The Government was prepared to join the Federal Government in making an approach to the oversea money market for a conversion of all debts at lower rates of interest.

Referring to the creation of new States, Mr Stevens said the Government was convinced the only effective way to prevent a repetition of the destructive government which lhad disgraced the Lang regime was a subdivision of? New South Wales by an amplification of the machinery already in existence for the creation of new units. This task would be undertaken as soon as possible.

FEDERAL LABOUR PARTY

THREE ALTERNATIVE ROADS

SYDNEY, May 25. Mr. Coates, leader of the Federal Australian Labour Party forces for the State elections, in a policy speech, said that New South u ales was to-day at the crossroads of her political destiny. Three alternative roads might be taken, the road back, represented by the policy of the United Australia Party, the road leading to a blind alley, represented by the Lang P'arty, or the road upwards, towards social justice and the preservation of Australian industries, indicated by tlie Australian Labour Party’s policy. Mr. Coates attacked the Lang Government for “its policy of intimidation, victimisation, repudiation, treachery, misrepresentation, industrial repression and tyranny.” He said: “We find no inspiration or hope in the policy represented bv the United Australia Party. We believe in the maintenance of widows’ pensions and the family endowment, and the restoration as soon as possible of those wage standards in the public service which the Lang Government promises to restore. We will fight for a system of unemployment relief whereby payment m cash is substituted for the present dole.” Mr. Coates advocated the continuation of the reduction of all interns* charges bv 22f per cent., and the continuation of the Moratorium Act.

CLOSING OF NOMINATIONS,

THREE CANDIDATES UNOPPOSED

SYDNEY. May 25

The nominations' closed . with one United Australia Party and two Country Partv candidates returned unopnosed. The Country Party leader (Mr. M. Bruxner) is one of these. For the remaining 87 contested .seats there are .302 aspirants. The United Australia Party has 57 candidates and the Country Party 34 candidates in the field, hut there are also a number of unattached candidates who are supporting the Government's policy. They are at present described as Unity candidates.

Lang nomnees number 76 and Federal Labour 37. The remander are either Independents or Communists. Mr. Lang has four opponents and •. Stevens one (a Lang candidate).

SYDNEY JOURNAL’S WARNING SANITY OR ANARCHY Received 10.40 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, May 26. The “Herald,” in a loading article, says there is only one question for every elector at the elections, that is whether he or she prefers sane, responsible government or anarchy and strife leading to civil war. “The weight of this State’s influence in the Federation is such that New South Wales can make all the difference between the salvation or foundering of Australia,” says. the. “Herald.” “By co-operating with the Federal and other State Governments the people of New South Wales can assure that this Commonwealth will be started on the road to prosperity.”