Comment From Party Leaders

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26848, 12 August 1948, Page 5

Comment From Party Leaders

Rec. 11 p.m. SYDNEY, Aug. 11. “Now the Australian people can all breathe again,” said the Federal president of the Liberal Party, Mr R. G. Casey. “Australia has been living under a shadow of great anxiety.” The Acting Leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr E. J. Harrison, said: “The judgment will be acclaimed not only by the people of Australia but by those other English-speaking countries and in those nations where funds are available for investment in Australian enterprise.” “This decisive setback, taken with the unmistakeable'attitude of the Australian people, should make the Government forget all thought of foisting its Socialistic policy on the nation, said Mr A. W. Fadden, Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Country Party. The only comment from the Prime Minister, Mr Chifley, on the bank judgment was that the matter would he the subject of a report by the Acting Attorney-

general, Senator N. E. McKenna. The Minister of Transport and External Territories, Mr E. J. Ward, commented: “ Racehorses are accustomed to upsets of form, but the High Court—never. I am not a bit surprised at the decision.”

“The judgment shows the fundamental weakness of the Australian Constitution, which prevents the Commonwealth Parliament from passing legislation in a democratic country.” said the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Mr Clarey, and the secretary, Mr A. E. Monk.

“ The result Is deplorWe for Australia’s future.”

The Victorian Premier, Mr T. T. Hollway, said: “The judgment is another step along the retreat from Moscow which started with the Victorian elections last year, and which will be completed with the Federal elections next year,” The High Court’s decision on the Australian Banking Act was great news for every Australian, said. Mr R. G.Menzies, Leader of the Federal Opposition, states a report from-London. “I am, of course, delighted. The.decision now shows that the- Prime Minister had a power to put his scheme into operation but this limitation on Commonwealth power is comDletely in line with Australian public sentiment.”

Legal opinion in Sydney on the question of a Government appeal against the High Court’s judgment was that the Government did not need to apply to the High Court for a certificate. of appeal to the Privy Council It must make application to the Privy Council for special leave to appeal No application could be made to the Privy Council until October because it was now the, long summer law vacation in England; This would mean that there would be two hearings before the council—one for leave and then the actual appeal if leave were granted this appeal. The process could probably not be completed within nine months at the earliest The opinion among Sydney stock brokers is that the Banking Act judgment is unlikely to have any marked effect on Stock Exchange business. Bank shares were quoted to-day at lately improved rates. The general industrial market was steady.