TURMOIL IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 11

TURMOIL IN AUSTRALIA.

UNRULY BRISBANE MOB.

POL!CE USE THEIR BATONS.

GRIEVANCE OF REDS.

OBJECTION TO RATIONS.

MARCH, ON THE TREASURY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 19, 10.55 p,m.) BRISBANE. March 19. Three hundred men, reputed to be Communists, marched on the Treasury today and threatened to invade tho ' building. They demanded to see tho Minister of Labour, Mr, H. E. Sijer, be. cause'they declined to work for rations. When the mob threatened to become uncontrollable the police drew their batons. In the melee which ensued several men were struck down, Later another demonstration took place outside the Trades Hall. One man atmck Sub-Inspector Pugh, knocking him into a gutter. The crowd swarmed in to follow up this advantage, but quickly rotired when the police drew their batons. Several arrests were made.

FEDERAL POLITICS.

next general election.

TREASURER'S SEAT IN HOUSE

(Received March 19, 9.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, March 19. Mr. J. P. Dunn, one of the New South Wales representatives in the Senate, who waa recently removed from his position as Government Whip in that Chamber, anrounces that he has decided to seek selection aa the candidate for the Dalley seat in the House of Representatives at the next general election. At. present the - Dalley seat is held by the Federal Treasurer, Mr. Theodore.

FIDUCIARY CURRENCY.

COMMENT BY THE TIMES,

EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSAL. (Received March 19, 7.45 p.m.) Times Cable. v LONDON. March 19. The City editor of .the Times, commenting upon Mr. Theodore's Fiduciajy Currency Bill, says it is admittedly inflationary. Tf inflation would mitigate Australia's troubles there would' be no "objection to tho' irieasure, but the raising of the price level in Australia above the world levels can only raise tho costs of production, thereby diminishing her capacity to export.

RATES OF INTEREST.

BILL FOR REDUCTION.

SECOND READING CARRIED.

SYDNEY. March 19.

The Interest Reduction Bill was read a second time in the Legislativa As* sembly by 50 votes to 26 and the measure passed on to* the Committee stage.

FINANCIAL CRISIS.

STATE CONFERENCE PLAN.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S MOVE.

ADELAIDE, March 19.

The South Australian Government has decided to convene a conference of Premiers and Treasurers owing to the inaction qf the Federal Parliament which, it considers, is engaged in futile strife while the States are struggling with the problem of financing needy farmers. The Premier, Mr. L, L. Hill, comments that if the Federal Cabinet will not act another course iwist be found by those Statos which desiro to straighten their financial position and to do something for the unemployed and the man on the land. They must get together to evolve a scheme for the resuscitation of languishing industries and businesses.

BITTER INDICTMENT.

OPINION OF THE TIMES.

(Received March 19. 9.45 p.m.)

Timea Cable,

LONDON, March 19

The Times says Mr. Hill's reasons for summoning a conference of Prerrfiers constitute a bitter indictment of the Federal Government and the Labour Party.