MR SCULLIN DECLARES VOTE WHAT HE EXPECTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 62, 14 March 1931, Page 1

MR SCULLIN DECLARES VOTE WHAT HE EXPECTED.

Further Drastic Wage Reductions Of Civil Servants Are Planned. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received March 14, 11.30 a.m.) CANBERRA. March 14. The position now as a result of the censure motion is that two breakaway Labour parties have been formed. Besides Mr Beasley’s party of seven, another section of Labour members, five in number, led by Mr Lyons, have broken away from the official party. Mr Beasley’s party are opposed to Mr Theodore’s financial plan and favour that enunciated by Mr Lang. Mr Lyons’s party are opposed to both. “ Primarily we are for Australia,” said Mr Lyons. Mr Scullin, commenting on the result of the censure motioh, said: “ It turned out as I expected. I was never in doubt about the numbers at any time, despite frantic efforts to swing over supporters from the Government side.” Faced with the necessity for lowering administrative costs, the Federal Ministry has decided upon further reductions in Public Service wages and salaries. About 28,000 will be affected by the latest cut.

MR SCULLIN SURVIVES DEBATE AND VOTE. SITTER ATTACKS MADE UPON THE GOVERNMENT CANBERRA. March 13. The Federal Government, by 38 votes ' to 33, survived the motion of no-con- . fidonee moved in the House of Representatives by Mr J. L. Latham, leader ] of the Opposition. Messrs Lyons, Fenton. Price, Gabb and Guy voted with the Opposition. Messrs Austey, Ward, Beasley, Eldridge and Lazzarini (Lang supporters) and Mr M’Grath voted for the Government. After the division the House adjourned until next Tuesday, when the Fiduciary Currency Bill will be introduced by the Treasurer. The fate of this measure is already sealed: It wiU probably lead to the downfall-of the Government and a double dissolution. A Hopeless Split. It is many years since members of ... the House of Representatives have been responsible for such bitter debate. It revealed that the Labour -ranks are hopelessly split. Caucus secrets were divulged and personal recrimination was indulged in in a most flagrant manner. Even the recent High Court appointments were the subject of satirical reference by the warring elements of divided .caucus. x Mr Lyons’s speech was most impasi sioned. At one 9t?ge a former colleague interjected : “ Why don’t you resign ?’’ To which Mr Lyons curtly replied: “ I am prepared to do that if either Mr Scullin or Mr Theodore desire to oppose me.’*/ ) The newly elected member for East Sydney, Mr E. J. Ward, delivered his maiden speech. He told the Government and the Opposition what he thought of them, reiterated his adherence to*Mr Lang’s financial plan, and then moved that the question be now put, which was carried by 38 votes to 33. The House then divided on the motion of no-confidence, which was negatived by "38 votes to 33. While the division was being taken Opposition members chanted: “Saved by the Langites.” Currency Inflation. Mr J. A. Lyons speaking to the motion said that he had explored and could not support the Government’s inflation proposals, which, though they differed from the self-confessed and downright dishonesty of Mr Lang’s programme of repudiation, would lead by a clearly coverging roadway to the same lamentable end. A fiduciary issue was essentially currency inflation, and the Government would not be contemplating it, if they were in a position to secure real money by approaching the investing public for a loan. The Government had not dared to do this because they knew they had forfeited the nation’s confidence when they failed to honour the agreement to balance the Budget. Juggling with the

currency would not restore public confidence or re-establish the country’s solvency. Credit and real money were needed for that, and real money depended upon confidence in credit. The success of the November loan showed that all the real money needed by the Government was available if the people had faith in the will and capacity of the Government to honour i their contracts and meet engagements.! Not a penny of real money was available to the Government to-day, because the people believed that the Government’s policy was leading to eventual national insolvency ruin. The latest inflation proposals were likely to hasten the evil day. What was required, to redeem credit and restore tfie prosperities of Australia was that the nation would be led frankly and unfalteringly along the straight course that honesty dictated. Political Traitor. There were many bitter, interjections during Mr Lyons’ speech, whiefi elicited a strong attack from the Attorney-General, Mr F. Brennan. He accused Mr Lyons of being a traitor, to Labour principles and of airing his own views during Mr Scullin’s absence, .by which he had gained applause unfairly. Air Theodore** Appointment. Mr J; B. Fenton, former acting-Prime Minister, explained why he had resigned. He said that he had protested against the reappointment of Mr Theodore, whose position was the same at that moment as when he resigned the Treasurership last year. Mr Fenton said that he felt he had a duty to perform. He had no sympathy with Mr Lang, but more harm had been done to the country’s credit at Home and abroad by the inclusion of Mr Theodore in the Ministry than by anything else he knew. He did not believe in revolutionary methods, but the temper of the people was nearing breaking point, and many members might find themselves swept , away perhaps not in a contitutional way. Contemptuous Support. Commenting on the result, Mr Latham said that the Government had survived in every circumstance of indignity. A Government which was prepared to accept such contemptuous support, having regard to its original majority of nineteen, could not com-, mand the respect of any section of the people.

MR BRUCE WILL STAND AT NEXT ELECTION. SYDNEY, March 13. Mr Stanley Bruce, formerly Prime Minister, who is visiting Sydney, said that he intended to contest his former seat, Flinders, Victoria, at the next general election. Upper House in H.S.W. The High Court judgment on the appeal from the New South Wales Supreme Court relating to the abolition of the New South Wales Legislative Council will be delivered on Monday.