STANDS NO DICTATION FROM RANK AND FILE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 9

STANDS NO DICTATION FROM RANK AND FILE

LABOUR CABINET EDICT \ PUTTING AUSTRALIA RIGHT (Received 10.45 a.m.) United l*. A.—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, Today. The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. J. E. Fenton, has made it plain that neither the Federal Cabinet nor the Labour members of the Federal Parliament are under an obligation to accept dictation from either the Australasian Council of Trades Unions or the Australian Labour Party conference, wlxlcli lately endeavoured to mould the policy of the Federal Government. A sub-committee is still exploring every avenue for economies and dealing with proposals i’or ameliorating unemployment. Before the Government agrees to the enforcement of the suggestion to impose a tax on interest, it is proposed tha J Sir Otto Niemeyer be consulted. A plea for tlie restoration of confidence in the community is put forward by Mr. Fenton, who declares that the faith of the people in Australia had been shown by tlie decision f certain firms to expend large sums of money in the country. It is learned that the Government is evolving plans for the encouragement of the export trade. Leading bankers are to be approached and asked to extend credits to enable this to be accomplished.

TALKED OUT OF IT

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S CLOSE CALL MELBOURNE, Monday. The fate of the Victorian Labour Ministry hung in the balance over the week-end owing to an attack by the Victorian branch 'of the Australian Labour Party, which debated a motion censuring the Cabinet for its failure to provide work and necessities for the people. The Premier. Mr. E. J. Hogan, defended the Ministry in a speech of several hours’ duration. Finally the motion was carried in an amended form by 88 votes to 72, complaining that the State Governmedt was not discharging Its primary duty and should go further in the direction of providing work and necessities for the people. Mr. Hogan, in an interview, stated that although the resolution was carried he interpreted it as a victory for the Ministry, as it was a very “thin” conference. *