FEDERAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1929, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTION

HUGHES OPENS CAMPAIGN. Labour nominations. (Australian Press Association.) (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 19. • Mr \V. M. ,Hughes opened his campaign at Cliatswood in his North Sydney electorate to-night. A majority of his large audience were diggers, who gave him an ovation. His speech, like Mr Bruce’s, was broadcast. Hughes described Bruce as a veritable political Messiah. There was, Air Hughes claimed, a sinister policy behind this move for the abolition of the arbitration court. It amounted to an attempt to reduce wages, placing workers in the position of having to accept employers’ terms or starve. The Nationalist Executive has selected Doctor Notte to oppose Mr Hughes. The Labour Party is not putting candidates against either Hughes or Marks but otherwise Labour is placing what they regard as their strongest team on record in the '.field, contesting all but two country seats.

POLICY SPEECH BY AIR BRUCE

AIELBOURNE, Sept. 18,

Tlie Federal Election campaign was opened to-night at Dandenong by the Prime Minister, who made a policy speech. Mr Bruce said there was one issue only. That was whether the Commonwealth Government should vacate the field of industrial arbitration, except to control the maritime industries. He appealed to the people to disregard all other issues, and all attempts to sidetrack. He pointed out that two former referendums seeking additional industrial powers had failed, and it was equally apparent that the learners of constitution had intended tne general regulation of industry should remain in the hands of the States. Mr Bruce emphasised the definite attitude of various unions towards awards of the Federal Court, referring specifically to the timber workers, coal miners, and the maritime workers. He said some sixty or seventy unions enjoying the benefits of awards had -allowed themselves to be levied for many months in order that strikers might flout the court. A death blow to Federal arbitration had been struck by extremists occupying power and authority in the Labour movement, with the result that the general financing and economic position was causing grave concern. The Government was convinced that only by improved relations,' and greater co-opera-tion in industry could a solution be found. A system of divided industrial control as now, was fatal. Premiers of all States had agreed and there was no alternative but that the Commonwealth should vacate the field of industrial regulation, leaving the States to do the work by themselves. ’ Mr Bruce warned the electors that the defeat of his Government at the election would he hailed by the extremists as an endorsement of their action in crippling industry, and of their right to dictate and intimidate through their political organisations, with disastrous consequences already well-known in uttis country and in Great Britain.

' FEDERAL ELECTIONS. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 19. New South Wales National Executive endorsed as candidates all the sitting members of the National Party, with the exception of Hughes and Marks, whose nominations were declared informal. i Manning, former member, will oppose Marks, who is standing as an Independent Nationalist for Wentworth. The Country Party has endorsed all the sitting members in this state.