HOME AGAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1930, Page 7

HOME AGAIN

MR STANLEY BRUCE IN AUSTRALIA. KEEN TO RE-ENTER, POLITICS. 'l' SYDNEY, Noveber 20. Looking very fit after his 12 months’ tour abroad, Mr S. M. Bruce, former Prime Minister of Australia, who last liis seat at the last General Election, is readv to enter the political fray again. In fact, judging by his remarks, he is keen to do so, and lie does not think he will have , to wait very long. Like other people, he can see that the present Federal Cabinet, cannot last long, as the differences over financial policy are too serious ‘for patching to be effective. Mr Bruce has already offered his -services to his old electorate.., lii the meantime lie is devoting himself to the business of which he is the head. He has many problems to solve there before he attempts to solve national problems. Mr that Australia must regard it that to bring about a return of prosperity she must look at both, primary and secondary industries.’lt'was useless to think that it would possible'to look at one or the other,atone. Thg primary industries had to provide/sufficient exports to . create the " necessary credits overseas while only/'the secondary industries could provide the necessary avenues of employment to put the people back to .Work, .y.-', ‘, . .. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Discussing the Imperial Conference Mr Bruce; said:—“That the British Chancellor (Mr Snowden) has agreed to the ’retention of the existing Dominion/ preferences for another three years is something to the good, and it shows the / strength of public opinion in Britiain, which has recently been aroused ,to view things from a more Imperial standpoint. The question of inter-imperial trade in consequence, is beginning .to have some influence on the present British Government and particularly" on Mr Snowden, who was. a declared /opponent of preference more than/, twelve’ months ago, and who announced that the aim of the Government was/tp. remove the concession on those products on which Australia enjoyed /preference^” RETENTION OF PREFERENCES Mr Bruce) made it clear that to his mind the.*bare retention of existing preferences would not solve the problem of niter-imperial trade. The primary industries'of ■ Australia would be kept going to/a point by bounties, or by charging//Australian , people more than wor|d parity. But that .system had practically:,broken down, and if it were applied toy such products as wool and flour its ■hopelessness would be demonstrated. Reduction in the cost of production wak. still the only method of saving the industries of the Commonwealth. He hud imagined that the people of /Australia had begun to lose faith in the powers of Governments and of political parties to solve economic problems.

There were encouraging signs, however, that Australians were beginning to realise the needs of the times, said Mr Bruce. The ways in which Governments could assist to prosperity; were limited, but they could help by keeping down expenditure to the lowest possible limits, and refrain from any schemes that would place a further burden on industry..