AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1925, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

[Australia Sr N.Z. Cable Association.] DR PAGE'S POLICY SPEECH. A STIRRING APPEAL. (Received this day at 11.23 a.niA SYDNEY. October 8. Doctor Earle Page delivered the policy speech of the Country Party at Grafton. He outlined the events leading to the formation of the party and the composite ministry. Dr Page emphasised the necessity lor co-operation between the Commonwealth and the State Governments and between the Commonwealth Government and individual enterprise. Reviewing the oast achievements of the Government Dr Page said that despite the fact the population had increased by live hundred thousand during the last lour years the ordinary departmental expenditure was £20(1.1)00 less. He added that the income tax. seven years after the ending of the war was forty seven per cent less than at its peak, despite the fact that the interest on the war debt and war pensions at present amounts to more than twenty-nine millions sterling, which is greater than at any time during the war. Under the national debt sinking fund scheme the debt will be extinguished in a period of fifty years and tb<' Commonwealth war debt to England, amounting to 292,180.133. will be extinguished in thirty-five years by an annual payment covering interest and redemption. Dr Earle I‘age then outlined the policy given bv Mr Bruce and concluded with a stirring appeal to the electors to choose whether they would tread the path "I continuous progress by peaceful and orderly methods, following British traditions, constitutions anil laws, or the path of decay and disorder which must follow in. the train ol direct action and tyranny whose only ap;M.-id is to might. \YA RXAM.BOOL RACK. .MELBOURNE, October 8. For the Wurnunibool-Mclhourne road race on Saturday next there are 22.'! entrants including the New Zealanders, R. Nicholson, D. Nicholson, Crutcltloy and Bright and for tile ColaeMelbournc, hundred miles, held eoncttrreittlv, Hl!> entrants.