MOSCOW’S WAY IN N.S.W.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18845, 7 April 1931, Page 9

MOSCOW’S WAY IN N.S.W.

Press View Of Lang Policy. COMMUNISM NAKED AND UNASHAMED. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, April 6. Newspapers warn the public what they may expect from the Labour Conference’s socialisation plan, which was adopted after a full debate yesterday by 57 to 44. The “Sydney Morning Herald” says the gauntlets have now been thrown down. Communism, naked and unashamed, has flung its defiance in the face of the State and the Empire, and neither Parliament nor the public shall count. The call then is for co-opera-tion to combat this urgent emergent evil. Australians must declare emphatically that they will not have it. The “Telegraph,” in an editorial, expresses the opinion that some people will be alarmed at the socialisation plan; others will merely be amused, but there is a section, adds the “Telegraph,” which will be gratified. This section, which has nothing to lose, is the stuff of which revolutions are made. The plan aims at doing things the Moscow way. It has the Premier as spokesman. He has thus declared himself definitely on the side of the Reds. MR LANG’S POLICY EXAMINED. ATTACK BY FEDERAL TREASURER. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, April 6. The Federal Treasurer (Mr E. G. Theodore) summarises the effects of Mr Lang’s policy as follows; — (1) Destruction of confidence in Government contracts. (2) Encouragement of breaches of contract by private individuals. (3) Refusal by taxpayers to pay taxation, especially those affected by interest reductions. (4) Reduction of interest to savings bank depositors. (5) Transfer of money from New South Wales to other States. (6) Curtailment of credit, adversely affecting all branches of business. (7) Inability to raise loans for public works. (8) Possibilities of internal strife. “MILES AHEAD” MR LANG’S VIEW OF N.S.W. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, April 6. The Premier, Mr J. T. Lang, announces that the Government of New South Wales is incerasing the food relief grants by 25 per cent. He declares that this State is stronger financially than at any time during the past two years. “This State is miles ahead of any other.” LABOUR’S ARMY. PROPOSED BY SYDNEY CONFERENCE. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, April 6. The Committee of the “Australian Labour Army,” submitted to the State Labour Conference a scheme for battalions, divisions, and brigades of the labour army—that all members of the working class should be eligible for membership upon payment of a fee. A delegate interjected: How many Lewis guns will that fee buy? The scheme was adopted. It was decided to boycott all employers who support the “All for Australia League.” LUXURY OF A GREAT GESTURE. AMERICAN VIEW OF MR LANG’S ACTS. United Pres* Association--By EJectrtt *eiegraph—Copyright (Received April 6, 8.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 5. The New York Times, in a leader entitled: “Australia thinks twice,” states: “In a strained domestic situation between the Commonwealth and New South Wales, it is strongly suspected that the latter is not so savage as it might appear. One may conjecture that the militant Mr Lang is pleased at heart that there was Mr Scullin to permit him the luxury of a great gesture of defiance, without incurring the risk of untoward consequences. Would New South Wales actually have ventured to refuse to pay the interest on her bonds in the hands of British owners, if she had not known that the Commonwealth intergent would assume the repudiated obligations? Beyond that, Mr Lang must have known, it appears, that the central government has the means of reimbursing itself. Actually, it may be said of the present situation in Australia, that compared with the outlook of a few months ago, it is distinctly reassuring, and outweighs the gesture of one State, in dishonouring its obligations. If the decisive manner in which the Federal Government has spoken out la acted on the other side

to-day, there is no question where Mr Scullin stands. GREAT SHOCK IN LONDON. OUTSPOKEN PRESS CRITICISM. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 6, 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. The financial editor of the “Morning Post” says that a great shock has been given holders of trustee securities by Mr Lang’s repudiation, and it is scarcely surprising that the general question of responsibility incurred by overseas governments under the Colonial Stock Act, should be raised. The “Morning Post” quotes a correspondent who asks, apropos of Mr Lang’s proposals, what guarantee is there that a similar crisis will not arise in future. It is pointed out that it is manifestly impossible for the British Government to permit a person of such financial influence as Mr Lang, by virtue of his office, to cause widespread ruin to beneficiaries in what is often small estates. LABOUR’S FIYT YEAR PLAN. PROPOSAL FINALLY REJECTED. United X*resß Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 6, &.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 0. The Easter Labour Conference of State delegates to-day, by 65 votes to 35, revoked its decision of last night, adopting the three year plan for the socialisation of industry. The Conference watered down the plan of socialisation, to provide merely for the propagation of the aims and ideas previously discussed. Labour Members of Parliament will be invited “to exert their energies towards the accomplishment of socialisation.” One delegate declared that the plan adopted yesterday was impracticable, and would plunge the country in civil war. Another delegate, in a fiery speech, said he was prepared to give his blood for the cause. Their slogan should be “Sinn Fein.” Still another claimed that the Socialisation Committee had neither the brains, understanding nor inclination to plan a practicable scheme of social revolution.