LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 284, 25 August 1921, Page 5

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

DECLARED BY MR. HUGHES TO BE TOO COSTLY AUSTRALIAN CONTRIBUTION “FLAGRANTLY UNFAIR” By Telegraph—Pres, Aveooiat lon-Copy rishi. London, August 23. Mr. Hughes, In an interview by the Australian Press Association, expressing Iffs intention of obtaining a substantial reduction in the Australian contribution to tho Leugue of Nations. It was flagrantly unfair, he said, that Australia, with five millions of people, should contribute tho same amount as Britain, with forty-five millions. He admitted that Australia had agreed to tho terms of membership at the formation of the League, 'but it had not been anticipated that the terms would be interpreted to mean equa’ity of tho contributions of Britain and Australia, irrespective of population and financial resources. It was impossible to allow this injustice to contimao. He believed the whole operations of the League were conducted on a grandiose scale. Tho League had become a gigantic machine, unjustifiably costly and absurdly disproportionate to the work U. was now doing or was likely to do within tho near future—Aus.-JN.Z. Cable Assn.

AUSTRALIA’S REPRESENTATIVE AT GENEVA MR. SHEPHERD’S APPOINTMENT ’ CRITICISED. Melbourne, August 24. Ths appointment of Mr. M. L. Shepherd, secretary to tho Australian High Commissioner, as solo Australian representative at the meeting of tho Leagut of Nations at Geneva was criticised in the Senate. Senator Gardiner contended that it was unfair to Australia and to the League, and asked, "Could not an office boy or messenger in the High Commissioner’s office he spared for such a position?” Senator Millen replied that he knew nothing beyond tho fact thatt Mr. Hughes had made the appointment.— Press Assn. MR. HUGHES’S REPLY—"PIFFLE.” London, August 23. Referring to Press cables attributing to Senator Gardiner tho statement that Mr. Shepherd’s appointment is an affront to f’.'e League and an insult to tho Australian people, Mr. Hughes said that such a criticism could 'bo summed up in a single word —piffle. Mr. appointment arose out of Australia s financial circumstances, which demanded the restriction of expenditure wherever it was practicable without impairment o? efficiency. The agenda of the League’s meeting contained nothing which Mr. Shepherd was not perfectly capable of dealing with in consultation with tho Government whenever .necessary.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.