NEW AUSTRALIAN LEADERS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1933, Page 9 (Supplement)

NEW AUSTRALIAN LEADERS

FEDERAL AND STATE MEN. HAPPENINGS IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, January 20. - One of the periodic cyclonic storms that break over New South Wales at this season of the year swept the western and north-eastern areas of the State last week-end, and several cases were reported of people struck by lightning. The most important, in a public sense, ol these incidents was the tragic death of the eldest son of the Federal Country Party leader, Dr. Earl Page. Driving cattle to the home station from Grafton, on the Clarence, young Page and his younger brother were overtaken by the storm on Saturday and he was on horseback when a flash of lightning struck down both horse and rider. The younger brother galloped furiously for six miles to find help, but when, the doctors arrived they could do nothing. Young Page was only 22 years old. He had graduated at Sydney University as Bachelor of Veterinary Science and his father had taken him into partnership, intending to allow the young man to manage his large rural interests while he himself devoted his energies to public affairs. Quite apart from the tragic nature of this sudden bereavement, Dr. Earl Page is compelled by his son’s death to retire (at least for the tune) from political life. Widespread sympathy is felt and expressed for Dr. Page. NATURAL SUCCESSOR. Everybody seems to agree that “the natural successor to Dr. Page in the Country party leadership is Mr. Paterson,” and there seems to be little doubt that the party’s choice will fall upon him. Mr. Paterson has always been a loyal friend to his leader, and it was generally understood that he would never consent to supersede Dr. Page. Dr. Page has always been the obstacle to closer union between the U.A.P. and the U.C.P. He has insisted on maintaining his party as a separate unit, and this fact, coupled with his strong free trade convictions, has prevented Mr. Lyons from' receiving him into the Cabinet. But Mr. Lyons has always been prepared to take Mr. Paterson into the Ministry, and Dr. Page’s retirement is thus likely to promote the solidarity of what may be termed the National Australian party at Canberra, and indirectly in the State Parliament as well. The Prime Minister just now is seriously embarrassed by the retirement for health reasons of his Minister of Customs, Sir Henry Gullett, and has appointed in his place Mr. T. W. White. This gentleman is, or was, a member of a well-known hardware firm, C, J. White and Son, but, following the good example of Mr. F. Stewart, he has taken his advancement to Ministerial rank as notice to withdraw from his commercial connections. . As the son-in-law of Sir Alfred Peakin, Mr. White is well-known in Melbourne social and public.life. He served with distinction in the war, holding the rank of lieutenant-colonel in a Melbourne regiment, and his book “Guests of the Unspeakable,” describing his experiences when, as an airman, he was captured by the. Turks, is one of the best “escane” narratives that the war produced. There is no doubt about Mr. White’s ability; and, as Sir Henry Gullett was a Victorian, Mr. Lyons has in this new appointment followed current political tradition. What chiefly concerns New South Wales in this connection is the fact that the new Minister will have charge of the Tariff Bill, which is to render operative the Ottawa Agreement. Most people here regard Mr. White as a “dyed in the wool” free trader, and if he uses his influence to interpret those dangerous articles 10-12 in the direction of cutting down our tariff wall at the bidding of the British producer and importer, the consequences not only to Mr. Lyons but to Australia may be serious in the ■ extreme.