POLICY OF MOSCOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 9

POLICY OF MOSCOW.

ifilPu LANG'S SCHEME. ADOPTION REVOKED. MODIFIED VERSION. CIVIL WAR FEARED. FIERY SPEECHES MADE. JJy Teleuraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received April 6. 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, April G. Tho delegates to the Easter Conference pf tho New South Wales Labour Party H to-day's session by 65 votes to 35 reroked their decision of last evening (carried by 57 votes to 44) to adopt Mr. Lang's three years' plan for the socialisation of industry. The conference watered down the plan fcf socialisation to. provide merely for the propagation of tho aims and ideals of the branch as set out yesterday. Labour members of Parliament will be invited to I' exert their energies toward the accomplishment of socialisation." One delegate declared that tho plan is adopted yesterday was impracticable >r)d would plunge the country into civil Ivor.

Another delegato in a fiery speech said Ho was prepared to give his blood for the |;ausc. Their slogan should bo " Sinn Ifein." Still another delegate claimed that the Socialisation Committee had neither grains nor understanding, nor had it the Inclination t» plan a practicable scheme pf social revolution. Press Warning to Public.

Prior to tho announcement that the tonferonce had revoked its decision tho newspapers had warned tho public what to expect from the plan for tho socialisation of industry.

Tho Sydney Morning Herald said: The gauntlet is down. Communism, naked and unashamed, has flung its defiance in the face of the State and tho Empire and neither Parliament nor the public shall count.

Tho call, then, is for co-operation to' combat this urgent and emergent evil. Australians must declare emphatically that they will not liavo it. Tho Daily Telegraph expressed the

opinion that some people would be alarmed by the socialisation plan and others would I merely be amused, but there was a section of the public which would be gratified. That section, which had nothing to lose, was the stuff of which revolutions were made. ; -

Tho socialisation plan aimed at doing things in Moscow's way. It had the Premier. Mr. Lang, .as spokesman. He had thus declared himself definitely on the side of the Beds.

Federal Treasurer's Attack. The Federal Treasurer, Mr. Theodore, summarises the effects of Mr. Lang s policy as follows: (1) The destruction of confidence in the Government's contracts; (2) the encouragement of breaches of contract by private individuals; (3) a refusal by taxpayers to pay taxation, especially those affected by interest reductions; (4) a reduction of interest to Savings Bank depositors; (5) the transfer of money from New South Wales to other States; (6) the curtailment of credit, which will adversely affect all branches of business; (7) an inability to raise loans for public works; (8) possibilities of internal strife.

'•Mr Lang is not the bogey-man he is painted, but' he is a very capable manperhaps the most capable in Australian politics," said the Hon. A. C. Willis, of New South Wales, who is a passenger for London by the Aorangi, which reached Auckland yesterday. Mr. Willis, who formerly was Vice-President of the Executi\e Council and Leader of the Government in tho Legislative Council, is to take over the duties of Agent-General for New South Wales in ,London, relieving Sir George Fuller. He is accompanied by Mrs. \Villis. Mr. Willis said Mr. Lang certainly was the subject of much adverse comment, but much of this was propaganda. He was the only man in politics in Australia who was prepared to stand up and "take the knocks" when they came. He had a definite policy, which was more than could he said for Mr. Scullin and others, and he was fearless in declaring it. He understood finance, and, on independent opinion, he was 6tated to be the best treasurer New South Wales ever had. "It is very probable that people outside New South Wales have a mistaken idea of the amount of support Mr. Lang receives," continued Mr. Willis. "He is very well supported, and he is gaining a larger section of the people all the time. All' over Australia his policy is finding recognition.

"As far as the cry of repudiation is concerned, New South .Wales is faced with two alternatives'. Either she must fail to pay the amount of interest asked or must throw a large number of people out of work and bring thern to the point of starvation. Thp, position is quite simple and the remedy is a logical one. One of the first duties, at least of the Labour Party, is to feed the people. Everybody feels that the rates of interest are too high. Australia recently reduced wages by means of legislation and it is only logic that interest rates should be reduced. The next five years 'will see a general reduction in the rates."

Mr. Willis said that Australia's problems were world-wide ones. Every country laboured under heavy war debts and there had been over-production throughout the world, owing, to the increased use of machinery. It was not a question of (his or that country having too little gold, ns America had too much and suffered just hs of her countries were suffering. '1 here !iad been a breakdown in currency, which bad failed to keep pace with the increase in production. There Were definite signs of an casing of Australia's burdens, Mr. Willis said. Politically, the air was clearing and business conditions were improving. One great factor had been the rise in the price of wool, although wheat' continued to sell at low prii.Ms. Once prices bad a tendency to rise, there would be a forward movement til round. It was the psychology of hopefulness ;ind Australia would soon be •"turning its face to the sun."

PREMIER'S BOAST. / NEW SOUTH WALES FINANCE. LARGER FOOD RELIEF GRANTS. / SYDNEY, April G. The Premier, Mr. Lang, announces Hint the Government of New South \Vales intends to increase food relief grants by 25 per cent. Mr. Lang asserts that this Stale is itrongor financially that at any tinio in the past two years. " This State." he lays, " is miles ahead of any other." '/