AUSTRALIAN CRISIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18350, 9 June 1931, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN CRISIS.

CONFERENCE RESUMED. OPPOSITION LEADERS PRESENT. MR LYONS’ UNDERTAKING. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. MELBOURNE, Jnne 8. When the Premiers’ Conference was resumed to-day the Prime Minister, Mr Soullln, welcomed the Opposition leaders, Sir George Pearce, of the Senate, and Mr J. A. Lyons, leader, and Mr J. G. Latham, deputy-Leader of the United Opposition in the House of representatives, who became additional members of the conference, which has now been sitting three weeks. Mr Lyons signalised his presence by asking for guarantees that the Commonwealth Government would abandon the inflation policy and would carry out the economies already outlined by the conference. If that guarantee were given, he said, the Opposition would support the proposal for the voluntary conversion of the internal debt at 4 per cent. Advice was received from Sydney that the life assurance companies have agreed to convert their Government securities at a lower rate of interest, as planned by the conference.

LATER. OPPOSITION SATISFIED. MR LANG’S OUTBURST. THREAT TO LEAVE CONFERENCE. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 9, 10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 9. Complete satisfaction with the assurances given by the Commonwealth Government was expressed by Mr J. A. Lyons, M. C. E. Latham, Sir George Pearce and other prominent members of the opposition. It is learned that Mr Scullin and the Commonwealth Government have given a most definite assurance that the inflation policy will be abandoned if an agreement is reached at the present conference. Mr Lang ‘took exception to Mr Lyons’ criticism of the policy of the Governments in the past, and lias threatened to leave the conference. Mr Lang said: “As far as New South Wales is concerned it. will not allow Mr Lyons or anyone else to Interfere. If he is going to come in and attempt to dictate 1 shall cease to be a member of the conference.’’