FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1932, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE. (Australian Press Association.) CANBERRA, January 8. The Federal Cabinet announces the appointment of the Attorney-General, Hon. Mr LatTiam as the Commonwealth Representative of the Disarmament Conference to be held at Geneva. Mr Latham will be : unable to leave for some time. Meanwhile Sir Granville Ryrie the High Coninnsioner, will represent Australia. The Prime Ministers, Mr Lyons, Mr Latham and Sir George Pearce have been appointed a Sub-Committee of the Federal Cabinet to examine the disarmament proposals. TRADE WITH CANADA. OTTAWA, January 7. In connection with the Canberra cablegram that the Australian Cabinet has appointed a sub-committee to examine suggestions for a reciprocal trade agreement with Canada, it is stated here ; that the Department of External Affairs has received no intimation that the present trade agreement is not satisfactory. The impression here is that it is working' out in a manner to develop trade between the two countries. A suggestion, in official circles is that the sub-committee may simply be preparing for the Imperial Economic Conference*

OVERSEAS TRADE, big credit balance, SYDNEY, January 8. The credit balance in London of Australian overseas trade, as the Jesuit of the five months’ operations ended on November 30th., £11,722,000, an increase of £4.540,000 on the balance at the encT of October. The amount is in English currency. The credit of the five month® is about £<78,000 below the amount necessary to pay five months’ overseas interest a n d other Government payments. The imports were of ;the value of £17,804,000 against £33,339,000 in the corresponding months of 1930-31, and the exports were valued at £29,526,000, compared with £39,070,000 in the same period of the previous year. PREFERENCE COURT. SENATE SEATS DECIDED. SYDNEY, January 8. The checking of preferences for New South Wales candidates in the Senate concluded to-night. The two remaining seats went to Charles Haray (Country Party nominee), and Madsey Greene (Australia. Partyite)/ who was formerly "a member of’the Senate. Hardy’s majority, over the nearest opponent, Anderson,- a Labourite, was 273,903, and Green’s 155,979. > The Senate counts in other States, except* ing Tasmania are proceeding. •. ' \ h it ‘ THE OPPOSITION PARTY; | CANBERRA, January §. Advices report that the' Cdiintry Party continues to maintain am jattitude of aloofness, and may claiid recognition as the Official Opposition, and occupy the Opposition benches. It will challenge the Government on' tariff matters and is patiently awaiting a statement of policy. The Country Party has sixteen, compared with fourteen Federal Labour members, and therefore claims to be the largest party outside of the Government. In the event of the Beasley group linking with the Scullin Party, which is regarded as unlikely, then Labour would automatically become the official Opposition by its virtue of numbers.