THE BRUCE CABINET

Southland Times, Issue 19772, 21 February 1923, Page 6

THE BRUCE CABINET

PROGRAMME OUTLINED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, February 20. Mr Bruce, speaking at the Millions Club, said he believed the composite Government now formed would provide stable Government which would insure a reasonable period of freedom from political turmoil and unrest. He intimated at the earliest opportunity the Government would remove all legislative restrictions imposed on trade and commerce during the war. He appealed to all parties to let the dead past bury its dead and work with wholehearted unity in solving the difficult problems of the day. The Herald states that the main points of policy agreed upon between Mr Bruce and Dr. Earle Page are the surrender by the Commonwealth to the States of all direct taxation, abolition of the present per capita payment of 25/- by the Commonwealth to the States, and instead the States to pay the Commonwealth a per capita payment of 30/- ; elimination of duplication in the administration between the Commonwealth and the States; reorganisation of the Post Office with, if possible, a reduction in charges; reduction of Customs duties on agricultural and farming implements and requirements; the appointment of a convention to give effect to the new r State movement; reorganisation of the Commonwealth Bank and the establishment of a system of rural credits.