AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 582, 7 February 1929, Page 11

AUSTRALIA’S PROBLEMS

STATES TO CONFER FEDERAL PARLIAMENT OPENS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) CANBERRA, Wednesday. The Commonwealth Parliament was opened to-day. The Governor-Gen-eral’s speech set out that the Government proposed to convene an in-ter-State conference, for the purpose of discussing transport, social legislation, unemployment and health matters. the development of power resources and the unification of the railway gauges. The Government would consider financial provisions in order to give effect to the recommendations of Air Vice-Marshal Sir John Salmond, on air defence. Bills would be presented to Parliament providing for a comprehensive scheme of national insurance against sickness and invalidity, and to repeal the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act, and in lieu thereof that protection be given through tariff provisions to vessels complying with Australian standards and living conditions. The Government also intended to give consideration to providing financial assistance to certain of the States. Sir Littleton Groom was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. J. H. Scullin, Leader of the Labour Party, made feeling reference to the restoration of King George to health. Parliament was adjourned until to-morrow This Parliament is the first to be opened in the new capital. A former ceremony, performed by the Duke of York in 1927, marked the opening of the building. At a meeting of the Nationalist Party of Australia the Prime Minister. Mr. Bruce, Mr. W. M. Hughes and others; criticised the Country Party for its non-observance of the pact by running candidates in opposition to Nationalists in some electorates. At a subsequent meeting of the Nationalist and Country Parties, Mr. Bruce suggested the formation of a united party to support the Government.