OVATION FOR MR. LYONS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1931, Page 7

OVATION FOR MR. LYONS

SYDNEY HAILS NEW LEADER CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT “RABBLE IN LABOUR PARTY” THE SCRAMBLE FOR POWER By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Sydney, April 28. , Not for many years has a political leader received such a tumultuous reception as that accorded Mr. J. A. Lyons by 3500 people who filled every portion of the Sydney Town Hall last night. About 3000 were unable to gain admission and heard his speech through amplifiers outside the hall. Mr. Lyons said .that the Federal Treasurer, Mr. Theodore, apparently contended that the risks of the Commonwealth Bank’s insolvency and consequent ruination of its customers should be incurred so that the Government might continue to spend more than it received. The size of the gathering had indicated that the conscience of the people was aroused. There was a disorganised ra'bble in the Labour Party, said Mr. Lyons, each faction vieing with the other in the concoction of more and more fantastic schemes. Its leaders in a time o-f national peril had sacrificed the d-ork of reconstruction to a sordid scramble for place and power. He refused to be an accomplice iii plans that would lead wage-earners into the wilderness of currency inflation. The Government had no more right to demand excessive financial assistance from the banks than demand it individually from private whose funds the banks ware safeguarding. Mr. Lydnp added that he believed that there should be a sound tariff pplicy, with . effective preference to Great Britain and intcr-Dominion reciprocity. ' The aiidience rose and cheered him to the echo.