DRASTIC REFORMS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1929, Page 6

DRASTIC REFORMS

PROMISED FOR QUEENSLAND,

NEW GOVERNMENT'S PLANS. SYDNEY, June' 3. , Ear-reaching reforms of a political, social and industrial character will follow the election in Queensland of a new Government which lias displaced Labour rule. Labour had hel-i li.'e upper hand in that State for 14 year' and the result of its socialistic polny is to be seen everywhere. Private enterprise was regulated to the background, and to a very large extent public enterprise ook its place, and tliis policy materially helped to increase the annual deficits for State undertakings were no mote successful in Queensland than they have been anywhere else in the world. It is not surprising, therefore that the new Premier should make an early announcement to the effect that all States enterprises were, to go

“We are getting rid of the State enterprise immediately,” declared the Premier (Mr A. 15. Moore) when lie was in Sydney the other daj*. “Butcher” shops and State fish shops and the State produce agency will cease to function at once.-The Railway Refreshment Rooms will lie handled over to the Railway Department, and the profits from that undertaking will go to the railways where they righly belong, instead of into the general revenue. The last Government transferred £25,000 from the profits on the railway refreshment rooms to the State produce agency. The Government wrote off £IB,OOO n respect to the fish shops, and £BO,OOO from the cannery, and yet last year the cannery paid a profit of only £4OO. None of these industries has given employment to one more man The State cattle stations were established to provide the State butchers’ shops with meat. Every pound of meat sold in those shops has cost the general taxpayer •i/o urpen.ce.” Regarding the industrial policy, Mr Moore said that the Government was opposed to a third party, such as a Court, interfering with the intimate details of business. It was proposed to encourage the system of round-table conferences between employers and employees. No case would he allowed to go to the Arbitration Court unless it was shown that the parties had met in conference and had exhausted other means of preserving industrial peace. Profit sharing would be encouraged, and if any industry was prepared Li take in employees as profit sharers, the agreement reached would be registered in the Court. Secondary industry would be encouraged by using part of the credit of the State to assist in the establishment or extension of industry under the same principles as the British Trade Fa. iiities Act. There would be an immediate restoration of the freehold principles of tenure.

In keeping with his policy Mr Moore, .on taking office, promptly rescinded the Farm Workers’ Award which came into operation a little more than a year ago. This, it is thought, will enable the farmers to employ many more men, for they will not be hampered by the overtime and other . irksome clauses. Under the term of the award, which applied to any farm or orchard operating for profit, a 44 hour week was given. Overtime was provided or, and double time had to be paid . for work done on many of the public holidays. •The result was that many of the farmers would not employ any labour, am" this is blamed to a large extent for the groat amount of unemployment in the State during the last year.

Referring to the proposal to restore the Upper House in Queensland —this was abolished by the Labour Government some years ago after it had displeased—Mr Moore said that it was proposed to hold a referendum in the subject. There are many people who i/jiink that Mr Mooie has made a mistake in arriving at this decision, for it is said that there is no desire in Queensland for a so-called “House of Review.” There are many Nationalists who are of the opinion that Labour’s example in Queensland should be followed by other States, which they claim, are already overgoverned. The tost of government in Australia must be enormous, and it would seem that in this direction at least some economy might be effected It is quite likely that the Queensland people ill decide against the restoration of the Upper House and such a decision would not arid to the prestige of the .Moore Government. Economy in the legislature is going to he effected in Queensland by cutting down tire salaries of the members from £750 a year to £SOO. Mr Moore does not say that members are not worth £750, but lie does not think so much should be paid at a time of depression and unemployment. Country members will be alowed an additional amount annually for travelling expenses.

There is also going to be a redistribution of seats, which wore arranged oy past Labour Governments to suit themselves 'lhe country quota was almost forgotten in the desire to “make” sale metropolitan seats. Further, the railways are to he placed under the contr 1 of a conmisison thus removing this important department from political control The Minister for Railways will still dictate the policy of the Department, lint the service will be free from political influence.

It is significant to note that at the last Premier’s Conference, hold about two years ago, there were five Labour Premiers present. At the conference that is being held at Canberra this week the sole representative of the Labour Parly is the mild Mr Collier from Western Australia.