AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

,— POSITION OF LABOUR INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS Dominion Special Service. Sydney, February 17. Both political parties are preparing for the next Federal elections in November, and a certain amount of window-dressing is in progress. After their defeat in the New South Wales State elections Labour remained quiescent for some time as though stunned by the unexpected result. No attempt has been made to heal the breach between the A.L.P. (or Australian Labour Party), which practically controls the Parliamentary Labour Party in New South Wajes, and the powerful A.W.U. (or Australian Workers’ Union). The latter classes itself as "Moderate Labour,” and desclares the A.L.P., to which it is politically affiliated, is now being controlled by the “Reds.” Almost coincident with the annual A.W.U. convention, held at Hobart, came the launching of the A.L.P. Metropolitan Conference in Sydney, and amazing developments have occurred which mark the intrigues of the leaders to gain political supremacy. The A.W.U. have not only dissociated themselves from the A.L.P. as constituted at present, but are making strong overtures to the A.R.U. (or Australian Railway Union) to amalgamate. If these powerful unions do combine and fail to dominate the A.L.P. they will enter into political opposition and Labour in both State and Federal spheres will be so hopelessly divided that defeat will be certain. Bruce Government's Position. In Nationalist circles doubt is being expressed if Mr. Bruce will lead his party back to power. In Dr. E. Page he .has not had the most energetic of colleagues, and financially Dr. Page has floundered so badly that very few have much faith in him as Federal Treasurer. Mr. Bruce declared that his period of office would be one of “legislative rest,” and the public is inquiring if his administration in all respects has not been in the nature of a political holiday. Theoretically he has led the Commonwealth to believe he is capable of great things, but his record is not one of outstanding achievement. Inspired by Mr. Baldwin’s desire to bring about industrial peace and a measure of co-operation between employer and employee, Mr. Bruce proposes a conference along the same lines. Mr. M. Charlton, the Federal Labour leader, has stated that he has no objection to such a conference, provided Labour is free to elect its own | delegates. The amendment of the Arbitration Bill now awaits the sanction of Parliament, and Labour, in truculent mood, defies Mr. Bruce to give effect to it. Mr. Bruce’s coercive tactics in connection with trade unionis mhave embittered the Labour Party, and may have an effect on his political fortunes if by some miracle Labour unites before it goes to the polls. “Startling Revelations.” The big sensation of the week has been the startling revelations by Mr. T. Hoare, president of the Northern District of the Miners’ Federation, regarding certain bribery charges which will implicate several big men, whose political destinies depend upon the mining vote. Mr. Hoare confessed to accepting a sum aggregating nearly £6OO from the Stockton Borehole Company to keep the mine working and free from industrial disputes. This sum he now proposes to hand over to members of the federation. Those who are in close touch with the bitter fight between the A.W.U. and the A.L.P. see in these revelations the manoeuvring to discredit certain politicians who have strong personal differences with leading A.W.U. officials. The Miners’ Federation is seeking an inquiry into Mr. Hoare’s allegations by a Royal Commission, bat there is grave doubt whether Mr. Bavin, the Premier, .will grant one. H.M.A.S. Melbourne’s Last Voyage. H.M.A.S. Melbourne sailed for England on her last voyage, to be sold to the shipbreakers. She has been a familiar sight for some years at anchorage in Farm Cove, and her departure was tinged with sadness. The memory of H.M.A.S. Australia, sunk outside the Sydney Heads in terms of the Washingtonf Conference, is still fresh in the public mind. Goat Races. Aa lawsuit which has caused some interest and amusement in Sydney circles is the outcome of a goat race staged at the big Y.A.L. carnival now in progress. A huge crowd attended the opening of the carnival, the goat races being the big attraction. The prosecution was made under an old Act which forbids boats being used as “beasts of burden.” The case hinged on whether the light trotting sulky could be regarded as “a cart.” The Magistrate held it was a cart and fined the defendants, who were small boys. The promoter of the carnival has appealed, and in the meantime the public are streaming to witness more “goat races.’ This form of sport originated in Queensland. Public fancy seems to be divided between the goats and the dogs. The tin hare craze has had many votaries, and has seriously affected the attendance at pony races. The weather has been hot and muggy. The humidity this week reach de 98 degrees. On Friday there was a terrific thunderstorm, accompanied by hail which smashed suburban windows. This was followed two days later by a monsoonal disturbance which deluged the State, but did not cool the atmosphere. Industrial Progress. Industrially the Commonwealth continues to inoe ahead, All parties are sympathetic to an expansi >n of secondary industries, and “preference to Australian goods” is becoming a shibboleth. The Labour Party sees in the growth of Australian manufactures the only means of absorbing immigrants. Mr. Pratten, the Federal Minister for Trade and Customs, in a recent statement predicted the investment of a hundred million pounds by overseas manufacturers in Australia, which would give employment to a hundred thousand people. The large number of motor-cars now being sold would seem to justify the manufacture of an Australian car, against one merely assembled here. The high tariff in several instances has been responsible for overseas firms ' establishing branches in the Commonwealth, and this process is likely to continue. British politicians may advocate a system of Empire trade, and seek to restrict Australia to primary production, but such suggestions meet with little sympathy. Australia is determined to be independent in mi industrial sense, and developments point to a manufacturing growth similar to that of the United States in her big effort to free herself of commercial domination by other nations. Taxation Reform. Taxation reform is becoming a burning question, and will receive the support of many people who are incensed at the short interval between thg col-

lection of the State tax and the Federal imposition. The approaching congress of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Australia will deal specifically with taxation matters, and there is a proposal to form a militant taxpayers’ association in New South Wales to curb Government extravagance. Tlie Sydney Chamber of Commerce will move as follows:—“That the attention of the Federal Government be drawn to the serious and widespread dissatisfaction with the administration of the Federal Taxation Act, particularly with regard to tlie Commissioner’s discretion in the application of section 21 and the treatment for income tax purposes of exAustralian incomes arising from profits of ex-Australian trading.”