POLICY SPEECH BY MR. HUGHES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 32, 1 November 1919, Page 7

POLICY SPEECH BY MR. HUGHES

THE SUGAR- GUARANTEE

DRASTIC WAR ON PROFITEER ING Br T«lfjniDli-Prcßß ABBooiailon-Oopyrtsfc! Melbourne, October 31. Mr. W. SI. Hughes,' I'rime Slinislev of the Commonwealth, delivered his policy .speech at Beudigo. After, outlining the Government's dealings with the producers, Sir. llnghes stated ' that tho guarantee of .£2l per ton. for raw sugar had been esteuded for another year. Deferring to'the war, lie said •Australia had a war debt of -100 millions.'-'aud -inust produce more, the only alternative being. Bolshevism; and the Government, believing that insurance against unemployment and sickness was necessary, intended to institute-a searching investigation with a view to the establishment of a system fair to employers and employees.

Tho Government, would continue its ef« forts to promote the organisation of industry, and had decided, with this end in view," to guarantee a "Jnttrinrairf price for cotton for three years.

Referring to the aitcrmalli of the war, he-Enid that profiteering would be dealt with immediately. It would be attacked! bv legislation and administration. The Government, was appointing a representative Royal Commission to inquire into high prices. After outlining the causes of industrial unrest, Mr. Hughes said a Commission was being appointed to inouire into tho cost of living in relation to tho minimum wage. The Government 'would create, machinery bv means of which representatives of organised Labour and of the employers would form industrial councils in tho Commonwealth and the States, and would give these councils statutory authority. A Commonwealth Industrial Court would be formed.- consisting of ono Commonwealth anil two or more Slate Judges. • A now tariff would be brought before the House immediately it reassembles, lie. also proposed a vigorous policy of immigration and a. public health scherno in co-operation with the States—Press Assn.-