AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20084, 23 October 1928, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN OPENED

PARTIES AND POLICIES

" THE LAW AND ORDER ISSUE."

[FIIOM OUR OWN COnnF.B PON DKNT. ] SYDNEY. Oct. 18.

Mow that the three party leaders have delivered their policy speeches tho Federal general election campaign may he said to be in full swing and already it seems safe to predict the return of Mr. Bruco and his Nationalist followers. By ii coincidence or perhaps it was l«y design, tho main issue is precisely the same as it was three years ago when Mr. Bruce secured such a sweeping victory— Ihe enforcement of law and order. Now, as then, the issue arises from an industrial dispute, in which Ihe authority of tho Government was definitely challenged.

Mr. Bruce centred his plea on the moderate section of Labour movement, and charged the Labour Party with deserting its old principles and giving itself over wholly to the extremists. Based on events during the last few weeks Mr. Bruce was certainly justified in taking this stand, but there are many who would have preferred to see the election fought on clearcut. policy issues, which would have tested moro thoroughly tho feelings of the electors However, a section of Ihc Labour Party—(ho industrialists —preferred it otherwise and there is more than a suggestion that they laid their plans accordingly. At the same time the speech delivered by Mr. Bruce was on broad lines—a record of progress under tho Nationalist regime, and a practical vision of future progress along sound lines. He proposed nothing spectacular, and emphasised once again tho need for closer co-operation between labour and capitul. 110 recalled how he had planned to achiovo this and how lie had been thwarted by (he extremists in the Labour movement. The most important reference to Ihe industrial situation was his determination that the present Arbitration system is to remain. This decision is made in face of opposition which, strange to relate, now comes mostly from the employers. The system, he recognises, is not ideal, but, bo asks, can anyone suggest a better? The " White Australia " Policy. Once again, in characteristic terms, Mr. Bruce emphasised the need for reliance upon Imperial unity for upholding the integrity of the Commonwealth, whether tho future should bring peace or war. He charged his opponents that they included men who did not believe in thu British lie, and others, including the executive of the. All-Australian Council of Trade Unions, who are pledged through their affiliation with the Pan-Pacific movement, who are breaking down the White Australia policy. The maintenance of a White Australia is a fundamental of the Nationalist policy, and Mr. Bruce challenged tho Labour Parly to state just where it stood in that regard. But Australia had to btj prepared to justify in the eyes of tho'world her occupation of so vast a country. To talk about shutting down entirely on immigration was therefore wrong, and would hr condemned by the whole world as wrong. But migration had to bo conditioned bv Australia's circumstances, and by the wise development of i rimary and secondary industries economic circumstances could lie improved and migration stimulated. r. Bruce outlined various plans for securing this "wise development. but. strange as it may seem, he did not propose another Royal Commission. Industries and the Tariff. On the subject of the tariff Mr. Bruce was as uncompromising as ever, and the policy (if protection will remain unaltered. He made it clear that established industries must be supported, and that against a world-wide system of dumping abroad surplus production at ruinous prices, Australian industry must be protected. There is to be created an economic research section of the Council of .Scientific and In dustrial Research, and on the expiry of the terms of the present members of the lariff Board, the functions of that board will bo reorganised in order to enable if to concentrate on assisting the expansion of local industries.

Mr. Bruce says he hopes that it mav be possible to arrange a trade agreement with Britain for reciprocal preferential treatment of agreed classes of goods. He described. not as n definite policy, but as a possibility (o be discussed, provisions under which, in return for a free market here during a period of years of goods which Australia cannot produce. Britain might cooperate in establishing local manufacturing industries wlnYii Austnilia desires.

'llio main portion of (he speech of (ho Labour Loader, Mr. Scullin. was devoted to ;i criticism of Iho finances of fh o Nationalist Government. Passing to general matters of policy, lie emphasised fli" need for combating unemployment, and Hie evils arising therefrom,* but his suggestions in this regard were of a temporary character, Labour, apparently, is prepared to extend Iho tariff to "any limit, however high, in both manufacturing "nod fanning industries. A second palliative for unemployment is lo set lo work fo unify the railway gauges an enormously expensive underlaking? Ami ■Vr. Scullin did nol; say where the money was coming from. If, has been esliinateil Ihat flie total cost of such a work would lie £57,000,000. No Labour Bofonco Folicy. Mr. Sen 11 in Says he would establish Commonwealth life and lire insurance offices, and would organise marketing under strict Government control. In tho lafler regard, the experience of Australia has not been a very happy one. Considering the losses suffered with the Commonwealth shipping line, fho electors are not likely to be enamoured with his proposal to establish a Government, lino to trade with Tasmania, and this suggestion contrasts with that of Mr. Brnre's lo repeal the coastal clauses of (he Navigation Act. Tn defence matters Mr. Scullin was nearly so definite as Mr. Bruce; in fact there is a distinct feeling that Labour has no defence policy whatever, and fails to see the need of one. I fence its willingness to abolish all forms of military training. Both leaders are now making an extensive tour of (he Commonwealth and will be travelling continually up till the lime of the elect inns, on November 14— Ibe same day as that, of the New Zealand general election.