N. Z. RETURNS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1931, Page 2

N. Z. RETURNS

, CONDITIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. PROFESSOR’S OPINIONS. ) V ELLINGTON, February 23. A coalition between the Nationalist ! Party and the Moderate Labour faction is, according to the average Australian view, a possibility in New South Wales politics. This was spoken of to-day by Professor IT. B. Kirk, of Victoria University College, who returned by the Makura from a two months’ holiday in New South V 7 a]es. Professor Kirk mentioned the attitude maintained toward Mr Lang, the State Premier, and the Labour extremists, but was unwilling to let his remarks stand as authoritative. “It strikes a stranger,’’ he said, “that there is general reaction against the extreme Labour Party, and the views express?d by Mr Lang. It may possibly lead to a coalition between the moderate Labour Party and the Nationalists, This is the view of the man in the street. “It is quite certain that Mr Lang had the support initially of a large number of people who, von would suppose, would not he misled by his promises. These were the Civil servants, not all of them, perhaps, hut at least the large majority. “Business people, too particularly small business people, believed in Mr i Lang’s promises, and tbe possibility of them being carried out, but everyone I knows now that they are impossible. I It is quite possible that tbe extreme Labour Party will sweep- everything,” Professor Kirk continued. “Behind it there is always the whole Constitution and the Courts, and it is on the cards that Mr Lang may not be able to j coerce the banks as lie wants to. I “There have been many threats of violence in New South Wales, and many minor scenes of violence. Labour factions whose ideas are not identical have certainly behaved on occasions very violently toward each other. They cannot live in the same camp. STATES DISSATISFIED. “Judging from the New SouthWWansl n s papers, West Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania are all dissatisfied with 1 the results of the Federation, and all

t talk of secession, but it is doubtful whether secession would be possible. It makes one thankful that New Zealand did not accept the invitation to join the Federation.” Professor Kirk said that the situation of the Australian wool-grower was well known and unchanged. One of the things, however, that hit the Australian wool-grower hardest of all, and was disadvantageous, therefore, to the whole community, was the tax on exported skins. The French market had boycotted Australian skins, and they were actually being destroyed. It was a terrible waste, of course, said Professor Kirk. UNEMPLOYED TRAMPERS. A feature of the unemployment situation was the number of men one saw tramping about in the country districts. It was done by large numbers systematically, the explanation lying I in the fact that men could draw rations if they could prove they had walked 40 miles during the week in search of work. Numbers of men might work for a day or two at the beginning of their week, and then carry through conscientiously their 40 miles’ tramp. Orders on a store for rations could be obtained then on application to the police. This systematic tramping was a very noticeable feature on rural roads.