CAMPAIGN OPENED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 7

CAMPAIGN OPENED

AUSTRALIAN ELECTION.

MR BRUCE’S POLICY SPEECH. WHAT DEFEAT WOULD MEAN. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). MELBOURNE, Sept. 18. The Federal election campaign opened to-night at Dandenong, where the Prime Minister, Mr S. M. Bruce, delivered his policy speech. Mr Bruce stated that there was one issue only—whether the Commonwealth Government should vacate the field of industrial arbitration, except to control maritime industries. Mr Bruce pointed out that two former referenda seeking additional industrial powers had failed, but it was equally apparent that the framers of the Constitution had intended that the general regulation of industry should remain in the hands of the States. The Prime Minister, Mr Bruce, emphasised the defiant attitude of various unions toward the awards of the Federal Court, referring specifically to the timber workers, coalminers, and riiaritime workers, and stated that some 60 to 70 unions enjoying the benefits of awards had allowed themselves to be levied for many months in order that strikers might flout the Arbitration Court. The death-blow to Federal arbitration had been struck by extremists occupying power and authority in the Labour movement, with the result that the general financial and economic position was causing grave concern. The Government was convinced that only by improved relations and greater co-operation in industry could a solution be found. The system of divided industrial control, such as existed at present, was fatal. The Premiers of all States had agreed, and there was no alternative, that the Commonwealth should vacate the field of industrial regulations, leaving the States to do the work by themselves. Mr Bruce warned the electors that the defeat of the Government at the election would be bailed by the extremists as an endorsement of their action in crippling industry and their right to dictate and intimidate, through their political organisations, with the disastrous consequences already well known in this country and in Great Britain. NATIONALIST CANDIDATES. Received September 19, 9.25 a.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 19. The New South Wales National Party executive has endorsed as candidates all the sitting members of the National Party, with the exception ot Messrs Hughes and Marks, whose nominations have been declared informal. Mr Manning, a former member of Parliament, will appose Mr Marks, who is standing as an Independent Nationalist for Wentworth. The Country Party has endorsed all the sitting members in this State. MR HUGHES AT CHATS WOOD. SYDNEY, Sept. 18. Mr W. M. Hughes opened his campaign at Cha.tswood, North Sydney, to-night. The majority of the large audience were Diggers, who gave him an ovation. His speech, like that delivered by Mr Bruce, was broadcast. Mr Hughes described Mr Bruce as a veritable political Messiah. There was, Mr Hughes claimed, a sinister policy behind this move for the abolition of the Arbitration Court; it amounted to an attempt to reduce wages, placing the workers in the position of having to accept the employers’ terms or starve. The Nationalist executive has selected Dr. Nott to oppose Mr Hughes. The Labour Party is not putting candidates against either Messrs Hughes or Marks, but otherwise Labour is placing: what it regards as the strongest team on record in the field; it is contesting all but two country seats.