FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1931, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

INTERESTING QUESTION. VIEWS ON WAR DEBT INTEREST. (Australian Press Association.J (Received 10.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, April 17. In tho Senate, Mr Duncan asked:- ! Was it a fact that tile investigation ‘b v ihe Ordinance Department in Sydney recently revealed that eighteen machine guns that been stolen from the stores; also whether police oflicers were armed with warrants and searched certain Sydney stores. The Assistant .Minister of Works, Mr Dooley, asked for notice of the question. Mr Scullin's announcement re war debts was received with hearty applause from members of both sides of the House. Mr Latham said members of the House and citizens of Australia will learn with very great interest and real relief of the statement by the Prime Minister. Alp Bavin said n.o more generous gesture had ever been made, and it furnishes evidence of the complete confidence which the British Government lias in the ultimate sanity a lid honesty of the Australian people. "I feel certain this confidence will he justified.” Mr Laug at Adelaide said the British Government's decision would gkeat!y hearten those who were working fflr the adoption by the Federal Government of the Lang plan. Apparently the. British Government was n<Hv more alive to public opinion in Australia on the question of War Debts than some of our own Governments. Premier Hill said it was ludicrous for Air Lang to claim any credit for what the British Government had done. The credit is due to Air Scull in who entered into negotiations with the British Government when he was in I,ondon . CROWDED MEETING. TO HEAR MR LANG. ADELAIDE, April 17 Three thousand packed the Exhibition Hall by six in the evening to hear Air Lang defend his repudiation policy. A strong body of police failed to stein a rush on the gates, and about two hundred who besieged the shut doors, were with difficulty forced out of the grounds. A few minutes after the opening of the meeting, a man threw a bunch of daisies on the stage. Concealed in the (lowers was u“stink bomb.” The police immediately suppressed interjectors and dragged them out.