THE TWO LEADERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21907, 17 September 1934, Page 9

THE TWO LEADERS

MR. J. A. LYONS STRONG PERSONALITY CONFIDENCE INSPIRED The Prime Minister, Mr. Joseph Alovsitis Lyons, is a man of strong; personality. His abilities would command respect anywhere, while his character inspires confidence and the personal attachment of men. He is a very fine speaker and has a rapier thrust in debate. He is one of the most kindly men, however, and, while firmly defeuding the principles in which he believes, is never personal. Mr. Lyons was born in Tasmania in 1879, and his primary education was received at convent and State schools. The economic conditions in Tasmania during his early days were such as to force him to earn something toward the cost of his sustenance, and at the age of nine he embarked on the duties of an errand boy. His yearning for education, however, was so apparent to his two elderly aunts that when he was a little over 12 years of age they enabled him to improve himself, and he then returned to school. Subsequently ho displayed a natural bent for teaching, and was engaged with the State Education Department in Tasmania for some years. Desiring to_ improve the conditions of State school teachers, he determined that the proper course for him to follow would be to enter the legislative sphere of the State. Entry into Parliament In 1909, with this object in view, he resigned from his position as a teacher in the Education Department and became a candidate for the Wilmot seat in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was successful in his candidature, and it was not long before his ability as a speaker and a leader came to be recognised. He was Treasurer in the Earle Government from 1914 to 1916, and, following Labour's defeat at the election lueld that year, he was elected leader of his party until the turn of the ■wheel in 1923, when he became Premier of Tasmania.

When he found his way to Canberra, after Labour's sweeping victory in 1929, his State record secured him a portfolio in a team in which nobody had had previous Federal Ministerial experience, and only one man beside himself, Mr. E. G. Theodore, had been a State Premier.

In Mr. Scullin's Ministry he was appointed Postmaster-General and Minister of Works and Railways. Upon Mr. Scullin's departure to Great Britain to attend the Imperial Conference in 1930, Mr. Lyons became Acting Treasurer, and as the representative of the Commonwealth he presided at many of the important financial conferences held in Canberra and Melbourne in Mr. Scullin's absence. Resignation as Protest After Mr. Scullin's return Mr. Lyons resigned from the Labour Ministry as a protest against the reinstatement of Mr. Theodore as Treasurer. Soon after he took a leading part in the formation of the United Australia Party, and when the Nationalist members of the Federal Parliament decided to join this party their leader, Mr. Latham, resigned the leadership of the Opposition in favour of Mr. Lyons.

Mr. Lyons is an ardent supporter of the Premiers' plan for the financial rehabilitation of Australia. In this policy he has had consistent support from Dr. Earle Page, leader of the Country Party. Their only differences have been regarding the tariff. His claim is that his Government has rehabilitated the finances of Australia, restored credit, banished the voices of confiscation and repudiation, cut unemployment in increased 'factory employment by 20 per cent, and improved production by £40,000,000, while the national income has risen by £60,000,000.

Mr. Lyons condemns the Labour policy of socialisation of credit and nationalisation of banking. lis recent policy speeches he said practically every primary product except wool had been subsidised in some manner. This system of subsidies could not endure indefinitely. World conditions might not improve, in which case it might be necessary to , qontemplate general schemes for home production, prices for which, in turn, might involve some control of the industries concerned. Meat Quota Proposals

" For the present," said Mr. Lyons, " the Government will continue the system of protection and subsidies to primary industries. The co-operation of States will also be invited in a comprehensive scheme for putting the primary industries on a sounder basis, giving relief from debts through a recovery loan, the proceeds from which will be spent by State Governments on approved schemes in rural areas." The effective course followed by Mr. Lyons to protect the Australian meat industry was a recent phase of his administration which attracted widespread appreciation in the Commonwealth. As the result of a vigorous protest made by the Federal Government against the proposals of the British Government to restrict Australia's meat exports, the Australian authorities were successful in influencing Great Britain to withhold her restriction proposals on meat exports 'for two years. Subsequently the Commonwealth Government was widely complimented by primary producing interests for the firm stand it had taken, and the greatest appreciation was expressed of its handling of the delicate problems that had arisen. Dr. Earle Page Dr. Earle Grafton Page, Leader of the Country Party, was born at Grafton, New South Wales, in 1880. He was elected to the Federal Parliament for the Cowper Division in 1919. He has been leader of the Country Party since 1921. He served in the war from 1914 to 1918. When Mr. Bruce as Prime Minister was away from Australia Dr. Page acted as Prime Minister. He- is a good " country " man from every point of view. He has always been a farmer and represents a class —a good, honest class—men with " a stake in the country." His attitude of friendly hostility has reduced more than one Labour opponent to desperation. The main objective of his party, he stated recently, will be a general tariff inquiry to determine what industries are essential and natural, what industries hamper the progress of others, what secondary industries constitute a burden on the primary industries, what is the maximum possible preference to Britain, and what is the best method of bargaining with other countries for favourable trade treaties. Dr. Page advocates the extension of the Ottawa treaty and reciprocal foreign treaties, and favours conferences between leaders of British and Australian industries to determine spheres of co-operation*