LABOUR’S POLICY

Southland Times, Issue 21195, 23 September 1930, Page 7

LABOUR’S POLICY

N.S.W. CAMPAIGN' MR LANG ON SIR OTTO NIEMEYER CASTIGATION OF PREMIERS (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.15 ami.) Sydney, September., 22. "Sir Otto Niemeyer lectured and castigated the Premiers of all the States as though they were a lot of schoolboys, and to show his contempt for Australian people he told them he did not come to Australia as a representative of the British people or the British Government, but as representative of the Bank of England to which Australia did not owe so much as a bent sixpence.” These and similar observations were made by Mr J. T. Lang, Leader of the State Labour Party, in .the course of his policy speech at Auburn to-night. Mr Lang added that Sir Otto Niemeyer told the Premiers' Conference that unless Australia reduced her tariff and lowered her standard of living, London financial interests would take advantage of-Australia’s temporary embarrassment and squeeze her off the Jjondon market. Then followed an unholy scramble by the Premiers to obey his dictates.

The Labour Party, Mr Lang declared, would insist on an amendment to the financial agreement and the dissolution of the Loan Council. This State must continue to borrow for many years. There was sufficient money here to finance public works, and he would undertake to get it in order to complete them. Labour would, if returned, break up large estates, encourage closer settlement, stimulate agriculture, co-operate with the Federal Government in providing a wheat guarantee, and embark upon proposals for agricultural research. Among other promises Mr Lang assured the workers that the Labour Party would restore the 44-hour week and maintain wages at their original levels. -It would also provide legislation which would regulate interest rates on mortgages. REPUDIATION TALK MR SCULLIN’S VIGOROUS REPLY. (Rec. 8.0 p.m.) London, September 21. The Geneva correspondent of the NewsChronicle interviewed Mr J. H. Scullin, Prime Minister of Australia, who described the repudiation talk as treacherous, disloyal nonsense. He added: “I should be deeply concerned if the small investor lost confidence in Australia. Rather than involve him in any risk I would tax the country to the last penny, and every Australian, except a negligible handful, would back me up.” OVERDRAFTS AT BANKS AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. ' A STATEMENT DENIED. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, September 22. When Sir Otto Niemeyer was asked to reply to the statement of Mr Arthur Blakeley, Commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs, that Sir Otto Niemeyer had not come to Australia at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government, Sir Otto Niemeyer declined to discuss the subject at all. Commenting on Mr Blakeley’s further statement that the Bank of England had suggested to the Commonwealth Government that they send a representative to Australia with a view to taking over the Australian Government overdraft at the Commonwealth Bank and Westminster Bank of London, Sir Otto Niemeyer said that the statement was not correct. A bank of reserve, Sir Otto Niemeyer added, was not interested in such business.