CONVERSION APPEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1931, Page 6

CONVERSION APPEAL

N.S.W. PROBLEMS. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, August 11. To-night the Prime Minister, Mr J. iH. Scullin, broadcasted an address in connection with the appeal for the conversion of a total of more than five hundred millions of internal debt to a four per cent, interest level. This was the first of a series of radio appeals. Mr Lyons, the Leader of the Federal Opposition, will follow on Tuesday night, and on Sunday night next Sir Robert Gibson (chairman of the Commonwealth Bank) will broadcast an address. Mr Scullin directed his remarks in particular to individual holders of one hundred and fifty millions worth of bonds. All eyes, ho said, were to-day focussed upon Australia, whose example in converting her debt voluntarily was unique in financial n.-story. The national pride of Australians demanded that they make a success of tho conversion campaign and of the whole plan of rehabilitation. ' SYDNEY, August fi. Mr H. Brooks, recently Austin Fan Commissioner in the United States, addressing the Constitutional Association on the depression, said that President Hoover expressed the opinion Australia would recover before either Britain or LTnited States. A DISCORDANT NOTE. SYDNEY, August' 11. The Leader of the Country Federal Parliamentary Party, Dr Earle Page, addressing a Farmers' Conference at Sydney to-day, declared that the Federal tariff must be cut down 25 per cent, in order to give primary industries a chance. VICTORIAN SALARIES. MELBOURNE, August 11. -A. .schedule embodying reductions in public service salaries and wages is being introduced with the Emergency [Retrenchment Bill, in the Victorian Assembly to-day by 'Mr Hogan, Labour Premier. The schedule provides the following reductions: Six per cent, on salaries to J3IOO, 11£ per pent, between £IOO to £225, Hfi p( . r cent. £225 £260, 15A per cent. 261—£312, and 25 per cent, on salaries above £312. • - - <LW. SALARIES PAID. SYDNEY, August 11. The New South Wales Public Servants' salaries were paid to-day, five days, late Their next pay envelopes will be appreciably lighter than these ones, because the recent reductions, will have then become effective.

N.S.W. HEivij'iF BREAD. CONTRACT TO CHEAPEN IT. SYDNEY, August 11. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr T. Bavin, to-day moved in’ the New South -Wales Assembly for a Royal •Commission to enquire into the cir.cmnstances under which Shadlers Ltd., were given the Government dole bread contract. -He declared that the arrangement with Shadlers Ltd., and its sudden unexpected abandonment, had created a suspicion in the niind of the community. i

The motion evoked a groat uproar. Mr Bavin urged the Chief Secretary; Mr Gosling, for the sake of his own reputation, to agree to an enquiry, a? be said, Shadlers Company consisted of “men of' straw.”

The ("fief Secretary, in reply, explained that the Government had embarked on the contract because the Master Bakers were charging too high a price for the relief bread. The Crown Solicitor drew up > the agreement, but no penal clause had been inserted, he-* cause tile Government had the right to terminate the contract the first moment that the supply of the bread broke down, as has actually occurred. It was- quite untrue to say that the Labour Caucus had instructed him to cancel the contract. Mr Bavin’s motion was defeated on a strictly party vote by 45 votes to 33. •Hon. Mr Gosling jrefrained from voting. ' N.S.W. LOTTERY. SYDNEY, August IfYesterday’s applications for tickets practically filled the first New South Wales State Lottery. A queue of optimists waited again to-dav for a chance in the second lottery.