REPUDIATION POLICY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3279, 14 March 1931, Page 2

REPUDIATION POLICY

INTEREST IN AUSTRALIA. PEOPLE VERSUS POLITICIANS. Sydney, February 19. Following the remarkable speech by the Premier of New South Wales (Mr. Lang) at the last conference ot Premiers at Canberra repudiation has become a very vital issue in Australia, and already it is clear that the public will not be a party to it. The indications are that Mr. Lang must look to his support from his own followers only from the extremist members of the Labour Party. The moderate section of even his own party is bitterly against him. Mr. Lang's declaration that he would adopt his own policy to New South Wales in spite of everybody and everything at last roused the people. Now it is a case of politicians versus the people. Mr. Lang has himself to thank for the sudden formation of an "All for Australia" League, the chief plank in its platform being "No repudiation." Several public meetings have already been held, and these have developed into great displays of patriotism—patriotism without, any flavouring or politics. The first meeting was called in one of the suburbs, and the local Town Hall would not hold the vast crowd that wanted to be sure that New South Wales would retain its honour in spite of Mr. Lang. This is how the objects of the league were stated to tthe inaugural meeting: "We want to create a public opinion that no politicians, no matter what shade of political opinion they represent, can disregard. We cannot blame anybody but ourselves for our present plight. During the war we were told that this was our country and that we must fight for it, and work for it; the call is just as great now. We want to speak so loudly that when we say 'This must be stopped,' it will be stopped. The policy of the league is to stir to common action thst. section of the community who sense the grave danger of our present position. It is aimed at creating a unity of purpose to do and suffer those things that may be necessary to restore our national, well being.

We hope to force a relisation of the fact that the nation insists upon honourably meeting its obligations. It must be realised that the people of this country will not countenance

the domination of its Governments

by dangerous minorities whose final - aim is the openly-avowed determination to break down our present economic and social structure, and to

replace it with a form of tyranny based on that of Russia. The safety of the country to-day demands the suppression of party interests."

The Sydney Town Hall was selected for the second meeting in the campaign. The meeting was called by the Lord Mayor at the instance of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, and so great was the interest displayed in it that the vast hall was full a fewminutes before the door opened, and there were thousands who could not gain admission. Inside and outside the hall there was an organised hostile section led by several well-known Communists, and the meeting was one of the most disorderly held in Sydney for years past. Throughout feeling ran extremely high, and there were several stand-up fights. It is even reported that blood flowed, though the police denied this, through the Chief Secretary. However, it suited the Labour Government, against which the meeting was directed, to ridicule the whole proceedings. Actually the scenes verged on a riot—a disgraceful demonstration of hooliganism. The police had to eject many men, some of whom became quite violent. One well-known Communist who twined his arms and legs around the tables and chairs near him, refused to leave the hall. A young man jumped from the platform to help the constable, but he was attacked by a "comrade," who returned to the platform with blood streaming from his face. The Communist continued to struggle and kick furiously, and finally he was carried from the hall by four police constables. In spite of the opposition the object of the metting—to protest against the repudiation proposals that had been put forward by the Premier—was achieved when the motion was carried on a show of hands by an overwhelming majority. The manner in which the people are rallying to the "All For Australia" League is regarded as one of the healthiest signs in New South Wales to-day.