NEW PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1932, Page 5

NEW PARLIAMENT

OPENS AT CANBERRA.

BAN ON BORROWING

(Australian Tress Association.)

CANBERRA, Feb. 17

The Australian Federal Parliament was opened to-day by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Isaac Isaacs. The Governor-General, delivering his speech said tlmt though there was a healthier and brighter iecnng in the community there were no indications of any general upward trend o. the price levels such as would justify any anticipations of an immediate recovery from the prevailing economic depression. The Government, therefore, proposed to deal with immediate pressing problems without waiting tor an improvement m world prices, which delay possibly would involve a grave risk for the nation. The Government’s energies would be directed to maintaining soundness in the finances and to hastening conditions that would bring employment to the workless. It was hoped that the Government of Australia would, faithfully pursue the common objective in adjusting their budgetary expenditure to meet the altered conditions! The speech also made reference to tlie finances of New South Wales, emphasising that the deficit of that State had gravely affected the whole budgetary position threatening a general financial collapse, Equally serious, states the speech, was the failure of New South Wales to meet its public obligations. The Commonwealth Government felt impelled, in the interests of the credit of the nation, to honour the obligations of the New South Wales Government, and to take such steps as would compel the repayment of the moneys paid out on its behalf.

Sir Isaac Isaacs added that it was deemed impossible to proceed with a large programme of public worksThe Government felt that the great -majority of the wage earners must necessarily depend upon private enterprise for their livelihood for the future. Efforts would he made to stimulate private industry by all the means within the Government’s pow-

SOME TARIFF CHANGES.

URGENT NEED FOR CAUTION

CANBERRA, Feb. 17

The Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs, announced that the Legislative programme of the Government would include the revision of the tariff. In this the Government would be guided largely, by the recommendtions of the Tariff Board. It was considered that, in ' View"of the "cl&pressecT"cowlF* tion of industries generally, any changes made in the duties should be made with the utmost enution; but, subject to the preserving of a satisfactory balance of trade, the Government would review the existing special schedules of surcharges and prohibitions.

The speaker announced that measures would be introduced dealing with unlawful associations, the regulation of work on the waterfront, radiobroadcasting, and co-ordination of the transport services in Australia.

The Governor-General stated that, in order to ensure their more economical working and efficiency,' a Bill would also be introduced to enable insurance companies to make deposits with the Commonwealth in order to safeguard the interests of the policy holders upon a uniform basis through out Australia.

After the swearing in of the new members, Mr G. H. Mackav, Member for Lille,y (Queensland) was elected Speaker unopposed.