SIR OTTO NIEMEYER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 9

SIR OTTO NIEMEYER

WHAT DID HE SAY ?

ME. J. T. LANG'S VERSION

(Eeceived 23rd Soptember, 8 a,m,)

SYDNEY] This Day.

Sir Otto Niemeyer lectured and castigated the Premiers of all the States aB though they f were a lot of schoolboys, and to show his contempt for the Australian people he told them be did not come to Australia as a representative of the British' people or. the. British Government, but as the representative of the Bank of England, to which Australia did not owe so much as a bent sixpence. These and similar observations were made by Mr. J. T. Lang, Leader of the State Labour Party, in tho course of his policy speech at Auburn to-night. Mr. Lang added: "Sir Otto Niemeyer told the Premiers' Conference thai unless Australia reduced her tariff and lowered her standard of living London financial interests. would; take advantage of Australia's temporary embarrassment to squeeze her off the London market. Then followed an unholy scramble by tho Premiers to obey his behests."

WHAT N.S.W. LABOUR WILL DO,

The Labour Party, Mr. Lang ( declared, would insist on the -amendment of the financial agreement and the dissolution of the Loan Council. This State must continue'to borrow money here to finance public works, and he would undertake to1 get it in order to complete them, i Labour would, if returned, break up the large estates, encourage closer settlement,- stimulate agricultural and fodder conservation, co-operate with the Federal Government in providing a wheat guarantee, ojx€l embark upon proposals for agricultural research. ~:■'■

Among other promises Mr. Lang assured the workers that he would restore the 44-hour week, maintain, wages at the original levels, and would provide legislation. which would regulate the interest rates on mortgages.

Mr. Lang declared that he would abolish the office of State Governor, also the Legislative Council, and reduce the membership of the Assembly.

"AMEND THE AGREEMENT."

"The trade balance," he said, "is purely a Federal affair which is being corrected by Mr. Scullin. The loan difficulty can be overcome by giving the Government a mandate ,to amend the financial agreement."