FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1931, Page 6

FEDERAL POLITICS

ANOTHER. ADHERENT

FOR AfR LYONS

(Australian Press Association.)

MELBOURNE. March 10

The Chairman of Committees in the Federal House of Representatives, Mr McGrath, has announced that he has left the Federal Labour Party, and has thrown in his lot with Mr Lyons. Mr McGrath added that he had no intention of resigning his position as Chairman of Committees.

VICTORIAN PROPOSALS

MELBOURNE- March 10

Sound Government by responsible men; the repeal of more than half or the legislation! on the Statute Books; and the relegation to bring about the deplorable conditions from which we are suffering to-day, was laid down by delegates of the Chamber of Commerce Conference, as the only means of regaining past prosperity. The Governor, Lord Somers, in opening the conference, said that a definite lead aind a definite l policy were the urgent need of the community. In his opinion, business had been hopelessly mixed with legislation. It would be a good thing if all the Acts passed by the Governments in the past twenty years were burnt, and a fresh start were made.

Mr J. Paxton, President, attache what he termed the incompctency c Australia’s present Government. I was a lasting disgrace that the Actinc Prime Minister (Mr Fenton), at th time of Sr Otto Niemevcr’s visit hai not :hacl the manhood or sense of fai play to make an official statement re garding th e true facts of Sir Otto’s vis it until he had left the country. N.S.W. GOVERNMENT. MAY CARRY CASE TO PRIVY COUNCIL. SYDNEY, March 16. The appeal which was decided by tin Federal High Court was one ngaims the decision of the New South Wale; Supreme Court, which had sustainec the validity of the Bavin Government’; amendment of the Constitution, whicl requires that a referendum he takei before hills for the abolition of the N.S.W Upper House' arc presentable for the Royal assent. The submissions on behalf of the bang Ministry were to the effect that no Parliament possessed the power to bind the succeeding Parliaments. Tlie N.S. Wales State Cabinet is now considering whether to carry the appeal to the Privy Council. If this is done the costs are expected to reach £IO.OOO. They are already believed to exceed £4OOO. WESTRA 1 dAN RKTR ENCH MENT. PERTH, March 16. The Westralian Minister of Lands fMr Latham), said that the State Government’s economy plans would include the retirement of two Ministers.

MR BAVIN

OPENS CAMPAIGN

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 10.

At Parkes to-night, Mr Bavin ad- ' dressed his first meeting in connection . with his campaign throughout the State to protest against the present policy of the Lang Government..H< said that financial chaos was inevitable i by the end of the financial year, ii the Government’s plans were carried out. Government were following a course which involved a break of the law and was asking the King’s re- ' presentative to acquiesce in and make himself a party to that breach: Lung's , policy could not be carried but witli- | out open, unquestionable illegality, particularly in connection with tin financial, agreement., The people weir entitled to ask the Governor to use whatever constitutional powers he poS- : sessed, either to prevent this policy being carried into effect, or if the could not be done, to secure an appeal to the people. A petition to the Governor on these Tines -was drafted, and Mr Bavin urged the electors in every part of the State to sign it. APPEAL TO PRIVY COUNCIL. SYDNEY. March lb. The State Cabinet decided to appeal to 'the Privy Council against the decision of the. High Court in the LegisI 1 alive Council case. Sir John Simon has been briefed to conduct the Government’s case. MR THEODORE. Neither the State Executive nor any other New South Wales body has power to expel me from the Labour movement, said Mi* Theodore. The Supreme authority in this matter is the Federal Labour Conference. A DECLARED MENACE. SYDNEY, March 16. Declaring it was illegal and unconstitutional the Government Whip in the Senate', Air Dunn, declared the Federal Government should suppress the All For Australia League. It-wa£ a distinct menace to law ; order and the good Government of Australia.