PREMIERS' AGREEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20932, 23 July 1931, Page 9

PREMIERS' AGREEMENT.

ACTION BY MR. LANG.

MEASURE IN "ASSEMBLY.

QUESTION OF FEDERAL AID. STATES SUPPORT MR. SCULLIN. Bv Telegraph—Press Association- Copyright. (Received July 22, 10,5 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 22. Legislation to carry out the financial agreement reached at the Premiers' Conference at Melbourne was introduced into the New South Wales Legislative Assembly to-day by the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, and received support from the Opposition. The Sydney Morning Herald says it is probable that the State Cabinet will give an undertaking that New South Wales will rejoin the Federal Loan Council, and also will give a guarantee that the State will assume jesponsibility for the payment of its oversea interest.

1 Cabinet Ministers generally expressed the view that the guarantees sought by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. IT. Scullin, should be given. The Daily Telegraph says it is significant that statements indicating the stringent conditions to which at least four of the States require Mr. Lang to submit before his request for cash assistance will be considered, were made yesterday. In Adelaide the South Australian Cabinet decided to stand solidly behind Mr. Scullin in his attitude toward Mr. Lang.

The Victorian Premier, Mr. E. J. Hogan, said in the Legislative Assembly, amid cheers, that unless the New South Wales Government accepted its share of responsibilities, its request for the Loan Council's assistance could not be entertained.

The Governments of Queensland and Western Australia have joined in the opposition to granting further assistance to Mr. Lang.

In a recent speech the deputy Loader of the New South Wales Opposition, Mr. B. S. Stevens, said the State Government had only itself to blame if the whole community suspected that it was not sincere in its declaration that it would honour the pledges given by the Premier, Mr. Lang, in Melbourne. Mr. Stevens stated he was convinced that the only hope for Australia, and for New South "Wales in particular, was the whole-hearted acceptance and carrying into effect of tho plan which was, recently agreed upon by the Premiers' Conference in Melbourne. Things were dark and uncertain to-day in New South Wales and throughout Australia because of the attitude that Mr. Lang and his Government was adopting in respect of that agreement.

Under the terms of .the Melbourne agreement, continued Mr. Stevens, the Government of New South Wales was obliged to effect, economies during this financial year amounting ib £4.600,000. These were to be in addition to those effected last year by the Bavin Administration. The reductions to be effected this year included £1.300,000 in interest charges, and reductions in salaries and contingent expenses amounting to 300,000. Up to the present not one measure had been submitted by Mr. Lang tp the State Parliament to give effect to any of these reductions. Were the State Government, to adopt the plan of economy already agreed to by the Federal Government about £2,500,000 in the present State salary bill of nearly £24,000.000 a year could be saved without causing any undue hardship. THE NEW GUARD. NEW SOUTH WALES MOVEMENT EXPLANATION OF OBJECTS. (Received July 23. 1.15 a.m.) ■ " ■ -SYDNEY. July 03. There was an attendance of 3000 people, who were admitted by ticket only, at a meeting of the New . Guard at Sydney Town Hall this evening, when spirited addresses were given -upon the objects of this recently-formed organisation. Major Treloar said the New Guard was not provocative. Ib was, however, completely organised along military lines to deal with any attempt at revolution or the overthrow of the present order of things by the dangerous elements now operating in the community.