AUSTRALIA'S POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S POLICY.

MR. BRUCE ANSWERS CRITICS, LABOUR'S SELFISHNESS.' \' A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE.'- Ang. 2. In the House , of;-'. Representatives, the Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, replying' to the debate on the Imperial '-))■')); Conference,: said h'3;had) never listened to, a discussion with .such-.misconceptions vi. of the issues involved. - The Opposition endeavoured to make the issue one of war or peacel :. Hie-purpose was to strive. for . peace, and one method ■ was "by pres- - sing at the ' conference, the claims for ,the League -of ; Nations, The world's ■'.)'..-/ peace largely ' depended on Britain's foreign policy, yet Labour members did not wantto .• participate,: though": profes- ' sing love for their fellow-men. Instead they preferred a selfish, policy of is<&V tion. He advocated, ... "an Empire ■ .defence scheme, because :it was: practical.");") Aus-,. , tralia must be, defended, but tho country would be hopelessly overburdened nn- ■■.■: less a scheme wen -formulated- in conjunction with another ) Powoit'. \ Referring , to the Ruhr and reparations, Mr. ' Brace"- ":":- said that for France .to : remain in the • Ruhr would be - perpetuating -■ another .. , Alsace-Lorraine, : which would ,be a < great ■ tragedy..v --He* agreed , with Mr. Stanley Baldwin,^Prime Minister of -England ,;tnat.- ' )Germany, -should; make i reparation /in' full.' .;) The , motion ■: to print the Imperial agenda paper was carried on the voices. ■£'• ' '■' :■ ''.