THEODORE ANATHEMA

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 74, 6 March 1931, Page 6

THEODORE ANATHEMA

DEMONSTRATION IN HOUSE MEMBERS' CRIES OF "SHAME!" ..__*_„ CANBEKEAj March 5. The Opposition in the House of Representatives made a hostile demonstration against the Federal Treasurer, Mr E. G. Theodore, while the Prime Minister was announcing' the names of the reconstructed Ministry. Immediately Mr Theodore's name was called a chorus of Opposition voices -Jioutcd "Shame!" Pandemonium prevailed and Mr Bayley was compelled to apologise to avoid his removal from the House. Later, when Mr Theodore gave notice of his intention to introduce the Fiduciary Currency Bill, the Opposition again shouted "Shame!" and endeavoured to prevent him from speaking, whereupon the Prime Minister appealed to the Opposition to record their protest in the orthodox manner. Mr Forde, Minister of Customs, announced the Government's intention to remove the duty on sheepskins and also to refund all duty paid. Mr Latham, Leader of the Opposition, gave notice of intention to move, "That the Government no longer possesses the confidence of the House." The Prime Minister secured an adjournment until the following day. A Melbourne message states that the sheepskin exporters of Australia have decided to renew their buying operations immediately the sheepskin .duty is removed. It is estimated that since the duty was imposed on December 17 last, a million sldns have cither been destroyed or damaged. Thousands have been burned.

THE LABOUR i lEVOLT. VOTERS AGAINST ME, SCULLIN. ' i SYDNEY, March 5. Mr Lyons, interviewed, said he expected four members of the Labour Party to vote against the Scullin Government on the no-confidence motion. He would take the opportunity of making his own position clear. It is expected, ho will announce his secession from the Labour ranks. TAXING THE THRIFTY AUSTRALIAN PENSION BURDEN CANBERRA, March 5. The fact that 80 per cent, of the adult wage earners of Australia do not pay Federal income tax and that 264,706 taxpayers out of 3,500,000 electors have tQ carry more than their share of the national burden, is the subject of" pointed comment by the Commonwealth Auditor-General, Mr Gerrutty. whose annual report was presented to Parliament to dayMr Gerrutty attributed this anomalous position to the wide and unjustifi-

able ehawM*er of the exemptions exercised by wage earners with families of. four or five children, and others. He urges a thorough revision of pensions and declares that the cost of old age and invalid war pensions, namely £20,000,000 annualsry, absorbs one third of the Commonwealth revenue. "War pensions are on a wholly unjustifiable scale. Hundreds suffering no physical disability are drawing these &i well as ordinary pay. Old age and invalid pensions are being paid to two-fifths of our women over 00 and men over 75 years, irrespective of whether they have led dissolute, lawless lives, and thus the thrifty are called upon to contribute by taxation to people often unworthy of assistance."