LABOUR PARTY IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20100, 2 December 1930, Page 15

LABOUR PARTY IN AUSTRALIA.

DISRUPTION FORESEEN.

DIVISION ON FINANCE. I.FHOII OUE. own CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, November 20. Every day now events aro shaping for a definite split in the ranks of the Australian Labour Party. The financial insurgents in the Cabinet, as well as the moderate Mr Scullin, Mr Fenton, and Mr Lyons, all have their friends and enemies iu tho general ranks, and it apjiears likely that the differences will develop and divide tho Party as did the conscription issue during the war. The more cautious have refrained from stating their attitude. Tlioy are sitting on the wall, ready, no doubt, to topple to either side. The Premier of Victoria (Mr Hogan) cannot be counted among these. His courage is praiseworthy. "It is timo the sensible members of the Labour Party took a stand and made known their intentions," he said yesterday. I take the stand alongside Mr Scullin, Mr Fenton, and Mr Lyons to preserve the good name of the country, our credit, our solvency, and our character. Some peoplo have been expressing opinions that if put into practice it would make Australia a iiation of bilkers and welchers. I believe some of these Labour men are stabbing Mr Scullin in the back, and if they are not rail-sitters I believe that their constituents will write and tell them to cease attacking Mr Scullin."

Bitterness Generated. Fresh evidence of the bitterness that has been generated was provided when the Labour member of Ballarat (Mr McGrath) made available for publication a telegram ho had received from Mr Hogan. It read as follows: "I am astounded to read your statement in last night '8 paper attacking Mr Scullin and his Government. Am disgusted to find you stab Mr Scullin in the back." Mr ..icGrath said he would reply with another telegram telling Mr Hogan that it would be better if ho devoted more of his time to solving Victoria's unemployment problem and less of it to the sending of insulting messages. The statement to which Mr Hogan took exception was one that if Mr Scullin had been in Australia ho would cither have had to obey caucus or resign. Mr Fenton's Attitude. It is now stated that Mr Fenton will be called before a special meeting of the Trades and Labour Council of Victoria on Sunday morning so that he may have an opportunity of explaining his attitude and why he went against caucus decisions. It is pointed out that he is now ranged on the side of those who oppose the nationalisation of credit, which is a very vital plank in the platform of the Australia Labour Party. The Council talks about "disciplining" him, which can mean only one thing—that he will not be endorsed as an official Labour candidate at the next General Election, which the Labour extremists are endeavouring to hasten. It is argued that the Government will remain hamstrung in any attempt to put into effect a radical Labour policy until it obtains control of currency, banking, and credit. The only way in which that control ean be obtained is by a double dissolution (House of Representatives and Senate), a General Election, and then a Labour majority in the Senate.