Prosperity Again in Australia

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 5, 29 September 1937, Page 5

Prosperity Again in Australia

-PresS Assn.— Cobyright.) '

governmenf poucy! Revival oi Assisted ImmiigratioR MORTGAGE BANK PLAN

(By Telegraph-

(Received 29, 8.*45 a.m.) HOBART, Sept. 28. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. A; Lybns, d'elivere'd his pbli'cy speecli ; to-niglit iii Ms clectorate at Deloraine, j Mr. Lyons said that the Govern- ] ment's defence policy was a ? balanced ; oue, providittg for hll aspects bf Aus- | trttlian defence. The suni spettt ott defettce itt Ihe past ■ i'oii'r years tqtalied £3l.5()0,1[K3G. 'The bf- J ticiency bf tfi'e Air Force had bebtt itt- i creased tettfbld, and th'e perttianent fersoiittel trebled. The G'overnmfeiit, Mr. Lyons pointed out, cbhtettijplated tlie extfensibtt of trade . treaties with foreigtt cbuttti-ies, if benefipial arrangementa could be evolVed. but the policy bf littperiai preference would be maitttained. A platt of assisted migration from Britain, along -pre-depressi'on lines, With nommated passages, would be revived. The Gbvefhinfent, if feturtted, Would give eFebt to the B'anking Cbmmissiott's : recommendations by. e'stablishittg & Moi-tgage Bank Department of thb : CbfaimbttWealth Bank, Wliich would fill I the gap in the bankittg structure. Fittauce would also be provided for ; secondary industrJes, but, uhder tto circqmstattce's, Mr. Lybtts stated, would the Government allow party or political control of the bank. Steps would be taken next session to create a National Insurance scheme, Which would provide beuefits for three million people and their dependents. Mr, Lyons emphasised the Government' s desire to faeilitate Empire fly-ing-Boat and trans-Tasman air-mail services j to ensure a wider outlook for rural producers ; -more and better scope for the nation's youth ; and greater care of ittfant life. The Frime Minister, itt conblUsion, claimed that employment had revette'd to the ptte-deptession level. The Gommonwealth had never been mofe prosperous. Reveiting to Defence, Mr Lyons emphasised that tti'e defettce policy was designed to I prevent an enemy froi. reachittg Australian waters. "We are determined," hb "said, not to wait until the enemy is at ottr giates before Wo attack him. An isolationist |)olicy must eXposte Austi-alia to the i'rightfttl dattger of having hef coastal citics and towns destroyed ruthle&sly, as-" is happening in othei: parts of the Wbrld. Ottiy by close cooperatiott between a sttong Austrhlian Navy and the Fleets of the Empire can we hope to prevent an enemy from coming within striking distance of Australia."