AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Southland Times, Issue 20642, 14 November 1928, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

ELECTION CAMPAIGN OPENED. PARTIES AND POLICIES. Sydney, October 18. Now that the three party leaders have delivered their policy speeches the Federal general election campaign may be said to be in full swing and already it seems safe to predict the return of Mr Bruce and his Nationalist followers. By a coincidence or perhaps it was by design, the main issue is precisely the same as it was three years ago when Mr Bruce secured such a sweeping victory—the enforcement of law and order. Now, as then, the issue arises from an industrial dispute, in which the authority of the Government was definitely challenged. Mr Bruce centred his plea on the moderate section of Labour movement, and charged the Labour Party with deserting its old principles and giving itself over wholly to the extremists. Based on events during the last few weeks Mr Bruce was certainly justified in taking this stand, but there are many who would have preferred to see the election fought on clear-cut policy issues, which would have tested more thoroughly the feelings of the electors. However, a section of the Labour Partythe industrialists—preferred it otherwise and there is more than a suggestion that they laid their plans accordingly. At the same time the speech delivered by Mr Bruce was on broad lines—a record of progress under the Nationalist regime, and a practical vision of future progress along sound lines. He proposed nothing spectacular, and emphasized once again the need for closer co-operation between labour and capital. He recalled how he had planned to achieve this and how he had been thwarted by the extremists in the Labour movement. The most important reference to the industrial situation was his determination that the present arbitration system is to remain. This decision is made in face of opposition which, strange to relate, now comes mostly from the employers. The system, he recognizes, is not ideal, but, he asks, can anyone suggest a better? The “White Australia” Policy. Once again, in characteristic terms, Mr Bruce emphasized the need for reliance upon Imperial unity for upholding the integrity of the Commonwealth, whether the future should bring peace or war. He charged his opponents that they included men who did not believe in the British tie, and others, including the executive of the All-Australian Council of Trade Unions, who are pledged through their affiliations with the Pan-Pacific movement, who are breaking down the White Australia policy. The maintenance of a White Australia is a fundamental of the Nationalist policy, and Mr Bruce challenged the Labour Party to state just where it stood in that regard. But Australia had to be prepared to justify in the eyes of the world her occupation of so vast a country. To talk about shutting down entirely on immigration was therefore wrong, and would be condemned by the whole world as wrong. But migration had to be conditioned by Australia’s circumstances, and by the wise development of primary and secondary industries economic circumstances could be improved and migration stimulated. Mr Bruce outlined various plans for securing this “wise development,” but, strange as it may seem, he did not propose another Royal Commission. Industries and the Tariff. On the subject of the tariff Mr Bruce was as uncompromising as ever, and the policy of protection will remain unaltered. He made it clear that established industries must be supported, and that against a world wide system of dumping abroad surplus production at ruinous prices, Australian industry must be protected. There is to be created an economic research section of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and on the expiry of the terms of the present members of the Tariff Board, the functions of that board will be reorganized in order to enable it to concentrate on assisting the expansion of local industries.

Mr Bruce says he hopes that it may be possible to arrange a trade agreement with Britain for reciprocal preferential treatment of agreed classes of goods. He described, not as a definite policy, but as a possibility to be discussed, provisions under which, in return for a free market here during a period of years of goods which Australia cannot produce, Britain might co-operate in establishing local manufacturing industries which Australia desires.

The main portion of the speech of the Labour Leader, Mr Scullin, was devoted to a criticism of the finances of the Nationalist Government. Passing to general matters of policy, he emphasized the need for combating unemployment and the evils arising therefrom, but his suggestions in this regard were of a temporary character. Labour, apparently, is prepared to extend the tariff to any limit, however high, in both manufacturing and farming industries. A second palliative for unemployment is to set to work to unify the railway gauges, an enormously expensive undertaking. And Mr Scullin did not say where the money was coming from. It has been estimated that the total cost of such a work would be £57,000,000. No Labour Defence Policy. Mr Scullin says he would establish Commonwealth life and fire insurance offices, and would organize marketing under strict Government control. In the later regard, the experience of Australia has not been a very happy one. Considering the losses suffering with the Commonwealth shipping line, the electors are not likely to be enamoured with his proposal to establish a Government line to trade with Tasmania, and this suggestion contrasts with that of Mr Bruce’s to repeal the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act. In defence matters Mr Scullin was not nearly so definite as Mr Bruce; in fact there is a distinct feeling that Labour has no defence policy whatever, and fails to see the need of one. Hence its willingness to abolish all forms of military training.

Both leaders are now making an extensive tour of the Commonwealth and will be travelling continually up till the time of the elections, on November 14—the same day as that of the New Zealand general election. _