MR SCULLIN’S DEFENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1931, Page 3

MR SCULLIN’S DEFENCE

TO ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT. (Australian Press Association.) (.-Received ibis day at (i a.in.; OlJJiMti, April 21. in a broadcast spei.cn man <..11110011',, Lu-mgiii, Uie Prime Munster answei'eu critics, tie atuukeu 1.1 r i-aing and lit ijvoiis and indicated tncid” would lie a double dissolution alter duly, if uio collate persisted 111 obstructionists tactics. eil said the t iduc.ary not issue ol’ eignteen million puuaus: was the pivot ot tlie (juvernnietit's financial policy. He reiterated there was 110 intention to overdo tlie Fiduciary issue, and explained it meant lunation only in a technical sense, as it would not involve nutation prices 111 anything like the same degree a s in wartime. He warned tlie people that the consequences of inaction, with three hundred thousand men walking the streets and the starvation spectre all ivlin'd them, could not lie viewed with equan' nmty: indeed it was -sulhcieut to excite tlie utmost apprehension. Were these men not entitled to ask that something should lie done beyond explaining 111 political platitudes that their only hope would he in a change of Government.

Dealing with a statement made by Mr Lyons and other opponents, that with a change of Government, money would flow 'freely, Mr Scullin described this as a most mysterious declaration, about which the people should lx* more fully informed. It would thus appear that the hanks were not so badly off as they would have the Government believe. Jt surely opened up the question whether the people were to govern Australia or whether the hanks and financial institutions were to govern.

If that were not the true position, then Mr Lyons should cease to talk about the mythical millions.