FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1931, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

MR LYONS’ SPEECH. POLICY OF OPPOSITION. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, Dec. 2. The policy speech of the Officii! Opposition, the United Australian Party, was delivered by the leader, Mr Lyons, at the vSydney Town Hall to-night. He said that the first duty of the Federal Government should L; to adhere unfalteringly to the pmciples of sound finance and to avoid era; y schemes for the creating or unreal money.

The Sculli-n Government had failed lie said, until its hands were forced to uphold the honour of the country, and pad tyiomiously aggravated (the depression and the unemployment. Moreover, Air Theodore was still bent on demented schemes of inflation, and the overthrow of the present methods of banking. Hd wanted to replace the pi event trusted, linking system with the monopoly of banking' under political control, which would prove calamitous. Air Lyons appealed to the electors for a mandate such us that given to the new British Government, aiming at a restoration of cotifidence in Australia/ and iit the meeting of her difficulties with shell lictihn as Ids Flirty considered neecssaty in such a' manner us would stimulate faith anti stability,

Air Lyons added that an endeavour would be made to make Australia an attractive field for, investment. Encouragement would he given for the development of private enterprise and production. Further Government economies would he effected in order to balance the budget, and, as soon as practicable, t-he heavy load of taxation would be lightened, as it was realised that the whole question of providing for unemployment depended upon the measure of relief that was afforded to the taxpayers. Relief would also be provided, through the tariff, to such industries as were affected' by the excessive duties imposed by the Scullin Government, but no sudden drastic changes would be mad;. Reciprocal! trade agreements would be made with other countries, and the fullest measure of preference would be given to Britain.

The United Australia Party, he said, favoured the amendment of the Constitution, in order to give expression to the demand for new States and for a fuller recognition of the principle of local Government. Mr Lyons outlined Ims party’s aims for arbitration aeform, and he concluded by declaring that the United Australian Party was strongly of the opinion that Australia should accept her fair share of the defence of the British Empire, and, above all, should provided adequate local forces to deal with any emergencies. againlTefeatep, GOVERNMENT FORGES 1 THREAT. SYDNEY, December 3. The Government was again twice defeated in the Upper House. Air Concannon, Leader of the Government forces repeated his previous threats that the Government would find means to put its measures into effect, despite the -opposition. The “Telegraph” interpreted this as meaning that- new Council appointments will be sought. GOVERN MENT’S PLEDGE. AGAINST EVILS OF INFLATION. (Revived this day at 10.15 a.m.) CANBERRA, December 2. The Federal Treasurer, Mr Theodore, in his speech to-night, pledged himself and the Government to take adequate measures to guard against the evils of inflation. At a later stage he said : “In formulating a new .scheme for monetary control, I recognise and acknowledge the imperative need to guard against anything in the nature of uncontrolled Inflation in currency. The ui Employed army can only become employed monetary supplies ai'e increased. Australia has a golden opportunity to create its own credit and lend it to itself.”