FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1931, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

LABOUR PAPER. ON “MR LANG’S HEROICS!” (Australian I‘ress Association.) LONDON, March 31The Labour paper “Daily Herald” says:—Australian opinion generally i s very annoyed that Australia should have to pay Britain a far higher rate of interest on her war debt than Britain pays to America on Britain’s war debt; but to feel this grievance is one thing, and to attempt to remove it by Mr Lang’s rough and ready methods is another. The decision of the Commonwealth Government makes Mr Lang’s heroics look foolish.” LONDON VIEW OF MR LANG. LONDON, March 31. The “News-Chronicle,” in a leading article, said: The Federal Government’s decision to meet the interest payments was Australia’s patriotic retort to Mr Lang, who cut a sorry figure, and would doubtless be swept from office if the elections occurred to-mor-row. ' LONDON TERMS. TO HELP AUSTRALIA. LONDON. March 30. The “Morning Post’s” diplomatic correspondent says :—“The Australian situation is now viewed with greater optimism than has brien evident for some time past. Mr Jiang’s declaration has touched Australian pride, ami the pendulum is now swinging in the opposite direction. It is possible that the Theodore-Scullin policy of a compromise will shortly cease to be conrsidered as a way out in favour of tbo downright policy of reconstruction that is advocated by the All for Australia League, and also by Mr Lyons. tVun such policy in force, London financiers would not be slow to respond.” GREAT SATISFACTION. AT DECISION TO PAY INTEREST. /■Received thH dnv at 8 am A SYDNEY, April J. The Prime Minister’s announcement that the Commonwealth Government will pay the interest due to British bondholders by the New South Wales Government, which is defaulting, has caused, the greatest- satisfaction in Australian political and business cir-

Mr Scnllin received , several cablegrams from England to-day, including on© from Mr J. H. Thomas, expressing gratification at the Commonwealth's action. „

ATTEMPT TO HEAL BLEACH, Tt was revealed to-night that a desperate attempt is being made by Labour stallwarts to heal the breach in tho Federal and State executives, in view of the likelihood of an early Federal election. The initiative is being taken by the Australian Workers Union, ■whose organisation is strongly represented in the Federal Ministrv.