FEDERAL POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3581, 31 October 1922, Page 19

FEDERAL POLITICS.

MR‘HUGHES’S POLICY SPEECH. SYDNEY, October 24. Mr Hughes delivered a policy speech at Chatswood to-night. He stressed the need for economy. He said that the Government's financial proposals aimed steadily at reducing taxation. The loan expenditure would be limited to developing works of a reproductive character. Referring to immigration and land development, the Prime Minister said the Government would co-operate with the States to establish training farms and build light railways to open up the country. A Commission would be appointed to report on the best means for co-ordinating the activities of the public health departments throughout Australia in order to improve the nation’s health, and a Commission would be called to discuss the remodelling of the Constitution. Mr Hughes said that he proposed to proceed immediately with the construction of the Federal Buildings at Canberra, in order to expedite the transfer of the seat of Government, there. Assistance would be given for the establishment of a voluntary sugar pool. The Government would not continue its shipbuilding policy, and coal control would not be re-imposed. The speech was mainly a recapitulation of the Government's past legislation. LABOUR’S PLATFORM. SYDNEY, October 25. Mr Chariton delivered a policy speech at Maitland. He said that Labour broke up the wireless chairmanship appointment, but the £500,000 which was involved went through, and with it Australia’s exclusive rights in local wireless patents. His party favoured the abolition of the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act, and advocated national insurance covering life, sickness, unemployment, and the needs of the primary producers. Mr Charlton’s policy includes a referndum on the ouestion of granting unlimited powers to the Commonwealth Parliament, the development of ports outside the capital cities, the adjustment of the land tax to break up laud monopolies, and Parliament to decide, before Australia is committed in regard to international affairs. PISAPPOINTINO SPEECHES. SYDNEY, October 25. Mr Hughes’s and Mr Charlton’s policy speeches caused disappointment. Both are regarded as smacking strongly of party manifesto and equally wanting in a statesman like attempt to enunciate a broad, practical, development policy, which the existing conditions and pressing financial and industrial difficulties demand. DR EARLE PAGE’S CAMPAIGN. SYDNEY, October 27. Dr Earle Page, in r.n address at Grafton, opened Iris campaign, lie advocated

national economy, the substitution of conciliation committees in lieu of the Arbitration Court, a Federal convention to revive the Constitution, a vigorous immigration policy, limitation of Government enterprise to development works, the creation of voluntary co-operative pools, Parliamentary' salaries to be on a fiat rate, with special a-llow'ance according to the geographical situation of the electorates.