CAMPAIGN OPENS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17640, 2 December 1931, Page 7

CAMPAIGN OPENS

THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS PREMIER’S POLICY SPEECH SERIOUS TASKS AHEAD ; (Klee. Tel. Copyright—Unltß^',Peep? Amr.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 1/. The Prime Minister, Mr. Sculliq, - delivering a policy speech, claimed Hint tlm Go . oriment, though handicapped\by h host ih* Senate, an emptyitreasury and a heavy deficit, had been, able to avoid default and also place Australia on the road to recovery.

He went on to say that the next Parliament must concentrate on .the work of economic reconstruction. The Government, if required, was prepared to bring together the best brains of public-spirited men in all walks of ;lifa to advise and assist in this task. Some means must be found to get tjie men back into employment. He expressed the opinion that, the ultimate ' solution of this problem would lie found in internal financial co-operation. The Government would, take up tho question of the interchange- of prefer-cm-es and of mutual arrangements for markets with Britain and the Dominions and help in tho search for ■ a sounder monetary system than the one which had already failed. The restoration of cm* plovment and tho rehabilitation of ttide and industry dwarfed every other iSsjitß j Mr. Scullin urged the electors to take no notice of canards, about the Qoiktfiment resorting to inflation:; Such tfaititfS were said years ago about the Fisher Labor Government. It was, however, intended to permit the Common wealth Bank to function actively as a trading institution in cohipetitiomvith private banks, and to embark upon' central' reserve banking, which a notable feature of the financial dfevelopmeut of other countries. A central bank copl(J tide the country over a period of financial stringency by mobilising the reserves of all banks and using them' t 0 the best, advantage. The Government would continue to encourage Australian manufactured to the utmost limit by affording • needful protection and would aim to secure .to British industry the main share of * the import trade of the Commonwealth. Efforts would be made to build up and strengthen the primary -industries ahd offer encouragement to others to take up rural pursuits. Although the high'rate of exchange was verv costly to the governments of Australia, the present exchange rate would be maintained in the interests of tho primary producers.

MR, BRUCE’S SEAT TWO CANDIDATES "TAGGED" . SYDNEY, Dec. 1. The United Australia Party has endorsed Mr. M. Hughes and Mr. N. Cow per for the North Sydney constituency. The object of the joint endorsement is to give the electors an opportunity of exercising a preference for either candidate, as Mr. Hughes has lost considerable popularity owing to helping in the downfall -of the Bruce Government in 1929. Mr. Hughes is extremely indignant at the latest turn of events. LONDON PRESS COMMENT

MR. SCUIjiLIN’S PREDICAMENT LONDON, Dec. 1. ; The Morning Post, commenting on the Australian election, says; "Mr. Scullin courageously accepted desperate remedies when experience proved them necessary, hut, unlike Mr. MacDonald, he didn’t form a new government. - He is now' faced both by a National Opposition and a bitter irreparable split in-his own party. For Australia’s sake it is, perhaps, not unfortunate that Mr. Lang and Mr. Theodore should be such bitter foes, but it is decidedly awkward for Mr. Scullin.”