BRIGHTER FEELING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 150, 18 February 1932, Page 5

BRIGHTER FEELING

(Press. Assn.-'-

in commonwealth

. AUSTRADIAN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT OPENS SPEEGH FROM THRONE

-By T(jlegTaph— Gopyright) .

Rec. Feb. 17, 1 8.15 p.m. CANBERRA, Wednesday. The Aus'tralian Federal Parliament opened to-day. Sir Isaae Isaacs, GoVernor General, in delivefiiig the 'speeh'h from the throne, said that though there was a healthier and brighter feeling in the eommunity, there were no indieations of an upward trend in priee levels such as would justify anticipation of an immediate reeovery from the prevailing economie depression. The Government, therefore, proposed to deal with the immediate pressing problems without waiting for an improvement in the world prices, which possibly would involve grave risks to the nation. The Goyernment's energy would be directed toward maintaining the s.oundness of finances and hastening conditions that would bring employment to the workless. It was hoped that the Governments of Australia would faithfully pursue the common objeetive in adjusting budgetary expenditure to meet the altered positions. N.S.W. Finance His Excelleney's speech made referenee to the finances of New South Wales, emphasising that its deficits had gravely affected the whole budgetary position, threatening a general collapse. Equally serious had been the failure of New South Wales to mjfeet its public obligations. The Commonwealth Government felt impelled, in the interests, and for the credit of the nation, to honour the obligations of that Government, and took such steps as would compel repayment of money paid out on its behalf. Sir Isaac added that it was deemed impossible to proceed with large programmes of public works, and the Government felt that 'the great majority of the wage earners must necessarily depend on private enterprise for a livehood. Future effort wonld be made to stimulate private industry by all means within the Government's power. Tariff Revision His Excellency, continuing the announcement that the legislatiye pro-

gramme would include a revision of the tariff, said that the Government would he guided largely by recommendations of the Tariff Board. It was considered, in view of the depressed eondition of industries generally that changes in duties should be made with the utmost caution, subject to preserving a satisfactory balanee of trade. The House would revlew the special existing schedules to surcharge, and prohibition measures would be introduced dealing with un_ lawful associations, regulations of work on the waterfront, radio broadcasting, and the co-operation of transport serviees in Australia, in order to ensure mox*e economical woi'k efficiency. A bill would also be introduced to enable insurance companies to mahe deposits with the Commonwealth in order to safeguard the interests of policy holders upon a uniform hasis throughout Australia. After the swearing in of all members, Mr. G. H. Mackay, member for Lilley, Queensland, was elected Speaker, unopposed. ________