“SECRET CABLES”

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1931, Page 7

“SECRET CABLES”

APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES

“M!R. SCULLIN DISREGARDED”

MOVE BY THE OPPOSITION

MAY SEEK ADJOURNMENT

CHANCES OF GOVERNMENT

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. • Sydney, March 16. It ik reported that the Opposition at Canberra is considering moving the adjournment of the House to-morrow to discuss the “secret cables” between Messrs J. H. Scullin, E. J. Fenton and J. A. Lyons. The contention is that they disclose that after Mr. Scullin had declared against the judicial appointments his appeal to tlie Cabinet to stanff firm and await his return from England was disregarded. The business of the country was taken out of the hands of responsible Ministers and controlled by an outside body. Mn Scullin comments that if the publication is intended to discredit the Gdvernment it has signally failed. The only one discredited is the man responsible for the publication. Anyone who treacherously disclosed confidential communications between Ministers was too contemptible for words. In the meantime the Telegraph’s correspondent’says the Labour opinion at Canberra is that Mr. Scullin may be persuaded to throw on the anti-Labour elements the task of governing the country. The prominent Scullin supporter, Mr. Curtin, declares that the Gov.eriimeiit is impotent owing to treachery, on one aid, and an absolute financial boycott on the other by the banks. Mr. Lyons contemplates a tour of Australia at Easter to deliver addresses dealing with the economic crisis and the recent hgippepings at Parliameilt. Cables , that passed between Messrs Lyons, Fenton and Scullin while Mr. Seullin was in England show that the Prime Minister wap indignant at the inflation proposals and the appointment of Messrs Evdtt and McT-iernan to the High Court Bench. He threatened to resign if the appointments were made. Mr. Scullin pointed out that since inflation had been, suggested people jh 'London were making An effort to withdraw money invested in Australia, fearing losses through depreciated currency. . . In a further message dealing with the suggestion by the caucus that the holders’ of maturing bonds should hold them for a further period Mr. Scullin said he did not approve of the proposal, which .was repudiation and dishonest. 'The caucus resolution had demoralised Australian stocks in the London market.

ANOTHER LOSS TO GOVERNMENT.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS.

Rec. 8.30 p.m. Melbourne, March 16. The Chairman of Committees in the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. McGrath, announced that he had left the Labour' Party and thrown in his lot with Mr. Lyons. He added that he had no intention of.resigning the position of Chairman of Committees. Mr. Lyons urges that the time has arrived for all parties to sink their interests and platforms and get together on a few simple guiding principles to work for Australia s good.

CAMPAIGN BY OPPOSITION.

POLICY OF THE N.S.W. PREMIER.

Rec. 11.40 p.m. Sydney, March 16. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. R. Bavin, addressed at Parkes tonight the first meeting in connection with his campaign throughout the Stg.te to protefet against the present policy of the Lang Government. Financial chaos was inevitable by the end of the financial year, he said, if the Government’s plans were carried out. The Government was following a course which involved a breach of the law and wtfi asking the King’s representative to asquiesce in and make himself, a paity to that breach. Mr. Lang’s policy could not bo carried out without , open, unquestionable illegalilty, particularly in connection with the financial . giee ment. The people were entitled to ask the Governor to use whatever constitutional powers he possessed either to prevent this policy being carried into effect, or if that could not be done to secure an appeal to the people. A petition to the Governor on these lines was drafted and Mr. Bavin urged electors in every part of the State to sign the State Executive nor any other New South Wales body has the power to expel me from the Labour movement,” said the Federal Treasurer, Mr. E. G. Theodore. “The supreme authority in this matter is the Federal Labour conference.” Declaring the league illegal and unconstitutional, the Government Whip in the Senate, Mr. Dunn, declared the Bedera! Government should suppress the All-for-Australia League. It was a distinct menace to law and order and the good government of Australia.