ECONOMY IN AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1930, Page 9

ECONOMY IN AUSTRALIA

EXPENSIVE MISSIONS. Economy in Australian being the word of the moment, there is enlargement of the field of discussion of the expensive missions abroad of Federal Ministers. There are those who do not see that even Mr. Scullin need go, writes the Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne Argus. One critic writing to the Press asks why he should go to England to be entertained there when he "has no use” for British arrivals in Australia, which was given to them by the British. Even if the Prime Minister’s trip can be justified it is contended that it would be well to have clear statements in advance of the expenses so as to reassure those who consider that in straitened times, with men on relief works and others without even that occupation and subsisting on charity, legislators should not charge the country with any fares but their own. The correspondent adds: “It is also asked whether the Prime Minister, abhorring class distinctions as he does, ought not to go in an ‘all-class’ steamer, which would be cheaper and cause him no worrying moments of ‘dressing for dinner.’ The argument that this would be the truly democratic course and would make a wonderful appeal to the people may not influence Mr. Scullin, but it is probable that there will be further representation of these views. Moro particularly he will be asked why the travel urge of his Ministers cannot be restrained unless they pay their own expenses.”