AUSTRALIAN LABOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR.

DIVERGENT SECTIONS.

ATTITUDE OF SENATE.

ABOLITION CRY RAISED.

PARTY AND TREASURER.

DECISION TO EXPEL. 7 Ey Teleirnpli—Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 15, 5,5 p.m.) / SYDNEY. March 15. It is understood tlmt in Federal Labour circles a scheme is being discussed under which if the Senate rejects the Fiduciary Currency,/ Hill the divergent sections of the Labour Party may he induced to join forces again and appeal to the people for the abolition of the Upper House. At a metropolitan conference of the Labour Party it was decided to recommend the Easter Conference to expel the Federal Treasurer, Mr. E. G. Theodore, for his utterances against the New South Wales executive and the Labour movement. In all 125 voles were recorded in favour of his expulsion and none against it. A few of the 1 delegates did not vote. The other New South Wales members of the /Federal Parliament who opposed ]\(r. Lang's plan will also bo denied endorsement at the next general election. The debate was warm at times. One delegato who was accused of interrupting while Mr. Lang was speaking was surrounded by angry partisans and bad his coat torn off his back. A message from Brisbane says Mr. .Theodore was warmly received when he rddressed a largo meeting thero on Saturday evening. He explained the measures proposed for meeting the financial needs of the Commonwealth and said the Government was not contemplating a wage reduction campaign.

•Mr. Theodore attacked Mr. A. J. Peasley and the .other New South Wales members ol tho left wing of the paity, ■whom he denounced as "gramophones for Mr. Lang." Following upon the defeated no-confi-flence motion in tho House of Representatives, says a message* from Canberra, two " breakaway " Labour Parties have been formed. Besides Mr. Beasley's party of 6even members, five other members led by ]Hr. Lyons have broken away from the official party. Mr. Beasley's party is opposed to Mr. Theodore's financial plan and favours that enunciated by Mr. Lang. Mr. Lyons party is opposed to both. " Primarily ■we are for Australia," said Mr. Lyons to-day. 1

Commenting upon the result of the noconfidence motion, tho Prime Minister. Jfr. Scullin, said: "It turned out as I expected. ' I was never in doubt about the numbers at any time, despite frantic efforts to swing over supporters from the Government's side."

INFLATION SCHEME.

jMR. SCULLIN INDIGNANT.

CORRESPONDENCE DISCLOSED

(Received March 15, 5.5 p.m.)

CANBERRA, March 15.

The contents of cablegrams which passed between Messrs. J. E. Fenton. J. A. Lyons and the Prime Minister. Mr. ficullin, while lie was in England have teen disclosed. These show that the Prime Minister was indignant at the inflation proposals and <he appointment of Messrs. Evatt and JlcTiernan to the High Court bench. He threatened to resign if the appointments ycrc made.

Mr. Sculliri pointed out that since inflation had/been suggested people in London had tried to withdraw • the money they had invested in Australia, fearing Josses through the depreciated currency. In a message dealing with the suggestion of the caucus that the holders of maturing bonds should hold them for a further period, Mr. Scullin said lie .did not approve of the proposal, which was repudiation and dishonest. The resolution cf the caucus, he said, had demoralised stocks on the London market.

DOOM OF MINISTRY.

EARLY END FORESEEN.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT.

(Received March 15, 5.5 p.m.) ffimes Cable. LONDON, March 14. The Daily Telegraph says: Mr. Scullin s Ministry was narrowly saved by the left malcontents. Now it has to face « more certain danger from Mr. Theodore's Fiduciary Currency Hill. With two How Labour Parties being organised nnd the loss of strength disclosed at the recent by-elections, tho prospect of victory ior Mr. Sculliu at a general election must appear to be dubious.

The Times says: For Mr. Scullin it Xas the kind of victory which is almost >orse than defeat, for it was secured only by an appeal to the secessionists who, •although they voted for the Government, cannot be counted upon to keep Mr. Scul3in in office. Mr. Scullin has become Jiicrely the leader of one of the three sections into which the party has been foroken. His Government cannot hope to jirolong its uneasy existence much longer.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

ARBITRATION BILL.

APPLICATION OF CLOSURE.

SYDNEY, March 14

The Arbitration Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee and its ■final stages in the Legislative Assembly #o-day by tho application of the closure.

CIVIL SERVANTS' FAY.

/Further cut proposed. CANBERRA, ' March 14. Faced with the necessity of lowering H m inistrative costs, the Federal Ministry has decided upon further reductions in wages and salaries of civil servants, 28,000 of whom will be affected.