CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 21265, 11 December 1930, Page 5

CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA

MR LATHAM’S PLAN SUPPORTED. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 1.15 a.m.) Sydney, December 10. Leading public men and the Premiers of four States heartily approve of Mr Latham’s plan for the creation of a non-party council to deal with the economic, crisis in Australia. They emphasize that this was done during the war in England, and a united front would have to be presented in the Commonwealth. On the other hand the Labour viewpoint is hotly opposed to Air Latham's plan, as it would enable the opponents of Labour to make a virtue of necessity. On a motion for the adjournment of the House of Representatives, Mr Latham, Leader of the Federal Opposition, declared that Australia was threatened by an imminent national crisis, the grave effects of which would be felt after Christmas when many large factories and big stores would close, throwing thousands more into the ranks of the unemployed. He proposed the appointment of a national council representing all political interests to devise measures to meet the crisis. The council must be representative of all classes of the community, partly politics must be sunk, and an attempt should be made to formulate a plan of three to five years’ duration for the rehabilitation of industry, and it would ultimately be the responsibility of the Commonwealth and State Governments to determine whether the plan evolved by this council should be accepted or modified.