SUGGESTION FROM AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 14

SUGGESTION FROM AUSTRALIA

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S OFFERS MESSAGES TO MR ROOSEVELT AND MR CHAMBERLAIN IVTXITEO PRESS ASSOCIATION COPT&tQHT.) (Received September 29, 11 p.m.) CANBERRA, September 29. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) said in the House of Representatives to-day that the Federal Government yesterday suggested to Mr Chamberlain a personal appeal to Signor Mussolini to use his influence with Herr Hitler for a peaceful solution of the Czech crisis. The Federal Government further suggested that the High Commissioner for Australia (Mr S. M. Bruce) might be of service in flying to Rome bearing a personal message from Mr Chamberlain to Signor Mussolini.

Mr Lyons said that Mr Chamberlain had replied thanking the Commonwealth Government and adding that he was at that moment considering action ■of this nature. Mr Lyons later disclosed that he also sent a cable message to Mr Roosevelt urging him to offer his services as a mediator.

Mr Lyons' announcements were received with cheers from all parts of the House.

MR LYONS'S STATEMENT TO AUSTRALIA

(Received September 29, 2 p.m.)

CANBERRA, September 29.

The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. A. Lyons) made a statement on the international situation in the- House of Representatives at 11 o'clock last night and broadcast a summary of it over the national network at midnight.

The statement contained no definite announcement. It was merely a summary of the events that had occurred in the-last few weeks.

Mr Lyons concluded with the words: "If war is to come to the world, it will not come by reason of anything the British nation has done or failed to do. Our hands are clean. We have done our best to keep peace. We have no selfish interests to serve. Even as the clouds gather about us, we still hope peace may be preserved."

WHEAT INDUSTRY

'DRASTIC REORGANISATION'

HON. D. G. SULLIVAN AT DARPIELD

Satisfaction with what he had been able to achieve in general improvements to the wheat industry was expressed by the Minister for Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in an address at Darfield last night. The chairman of the Malvern County Council (Mr H. C. Towhsend) presided, and there was a large attendance. The Minister received an attentive hearing throughout his address. By making personal contact with the wheatgrowers, said Mr Sullivan/ he was able to get more information than by relying on departmental reports, and thus investigate the position thoroughly. He found the wheat, flour, and bread industries in a state of chaos. There had always been hostility in Parliament from the National Party members in the North Island, who contended that the industry should be self-supporting. He strongly opposed these views, and emphasised that Canterbury was endeavouring to grow enough wheat for the needs of the Dominion.

Starting with an embargo on imported wheat and flour, Mr Sullivan said, he brought about drastic reorganisation of the three industries which he considered was most efficient. An increase in the price of wheat introduced a problem in the price of bread. The actual cost of an increase of 6d a bushel meant an increase of £150,000 to growers, so rather than ask the public to pay more for bread he decided to ask the Government to meet the £150,000 out of the Consolidated Fund, and let the price of bread remain as it was.

"Statements have been made that bread made -from New Zealand flour is not good bread. That is one of the stock arguments I have to face," he said. "It is entirely incorrect. Experts from Australia, England, and America say that bread made with New Zealand flour will compare favourably with bread made anywhere else in the world. lam pleased to say that wheatgrowers, millers, bakers, and others engaged in the industry have written to me expressing appreciation and approval of the steps I have taken to encourage the industry in New Zealand. As long as there is a Labour Government and I am Minister for Industries and Commerce I shall continue to give the industry every encouragement. It is not merely a matter of economics, but it is vital that this Dominion should have an adequate supply of wheat in the event of war, in which case we could not depend on it being imported. It is nothing but cominen sense that we should continue to grow our own supply." On the motion of Mr J. R. Cullen a vote of thanks to the Minister was carried by acclamation.