FEDERAL ELECTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 7

FEDERAL ELECTION

LABOUR CAMPAIGN. CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. COMMONWEALTH FINANCES. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—CJopvright.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 19. Mr J. H. Scullin, leader of'the Opposition in the Commonwealth Parliament, opened the Labour campaign at Richmond this evening. Mr Scullin vigorously defended the arbitration system, and declared that the Government at the last election received a mandate to maintain the arbitration system, not to destroy it, while behind the latest move was an attempt to reduce wages, 6pced up the workers and lengthen hours. Mr Scullin contended that if the Arbitration Court were swept away it would be impossible in most cases to get employers to agree to meet employees in a round-table conference, and there would bo no machinery to compel them to come together. The clock thus would be put back 25 years. Mr Scullin attacked the Government upon the alarming condition of the Commonwealth finances. He stated that the accumulated surplus of £7,500,000 when the Bruce-Page Government took office six years ago had been turned into an accumulated deficit of nearly £5,000,000. “If finance is the test of good Government, then God help this Government, added Mr Scullin. , , , The sum of £2,000,000 had been spent on assisted immigration in the past four years. If the Labour Party were returned, this money would bo diverted to assisting Australia s unemployed and help develop the counScullin also attacked the taxation proposals and the Government s action in withdrawing the prosecution against the coal-owner, John Brown, for locking out miners.