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COUNTRY PARTY AIMS.
SYDNEY CONFERENCE.
Curtin Government Pilloried.
SYDNEY, Jan 21.--"The Austra
lan Country Party has earned a high
reputation for vigilance, outspoken
criticism and constructive sugges
tions," said the Leader of the Party
(Mr A. W. Fadden) at the opening
of the party's conference in Sydney
yesterday.
"Our efforts to establish ourselves
on an Australia-wide basis have
been recognised in a statement by
the Leader of the Opposition (Mr
Menzies). His reference serves also
to answer inquiries concerning the
absence of representatives of the
Country Party from the conference
convened by Mr Menzies at which
a number of non-Labour organisa
tions were formed into the Liberal
Party. Mr Menzies said the Country
Party had already achieved a very
desirable degree of unity.
"The years 1945 and 1946 promise
to be two of the most momentous
in Australia's history. We have in
power in the Commonwealth Par
liament a Labour Government with
a majority in both Houses; in NSW,
Queensland, Western Australia and
Tasmania there are Labour Govern
ments. The Curtin Government must
go to an election in 1946. Therefore,
this year and next the Labour Party
will concentrate on doing those
things which it hopes will retain for
it at the next election the measure
of support it received in 1943. The
Government will use its weight of
numbers to place on the Statute
book whatever legislation it likes,
irrespective of how Australia's eco
nomic and financial stability might
be endangered. Just as. there are
Irresponsibles in the Industrial move
ment, so there are irresponsibles !i
the Curtin Ministry and in the
Federal Labour Party. However,
there is increasing evidence that
support for the Labour Party is
waning. That the Cabinet is by no
means a happy or united family is
evident from the divergence of
opinion on the proposed banking
legislation.
"The Australian Country Party
must organise to command the sup
port of every country worker, rural
producer, country storekeeper,
country businessman, and country
professional man, every man and
woman who earn their living in our
country cities and towns. To do
that, we must demonstrate that we
are entitled to receive their support.
We must widen our horizons and
put the development of rural Aus
tralia into its proper place in the
economic picture. We must get out
of our minds the idea that rural
Australia consists of primary indus
tries only.
Decentralisation Need.
"Within the next generation Aus
tralia will require at least a dozen
Newcastles. These must not be
cities along the coast but inland
cities which will maintain their own
industries, provide ready markets for
rural production within the dis
tricts surrounding them and also.
employment for men and women
not occupied in rural production.;
The need for effective decentralisa-I
tion of our population and of in
dustry is imperative. We must makei
a start with the building up of a:
dozen Newcastles which will possess
the amenities and facilities that will1
stop the drift of the younger peoplej
to the cities. The drift of popula
tion from the country to the cityl
since war broke out has assumed
staggering proportions.
'There is today shocking over
crowding in Australian cities andi
suburbs. Housing demands are such
that for years to come it will be im
possible to meet them. Thousands
are living under slum conditions,
while others are paying exorbitant)
rentals for very poor and unhealthy
accommodation. Consequently, the
Country Party will perform a
national aervice if it can carry into
effect a policy of sound. economic
and complete decentralisation and
we must strive to develop both
primary and secondary industries,
rapid transport facilities, cheap elec
tricity, water conservation and the
like.
Socialsation.
"When the Curtin Government
went to the people in 1943 it was
particularly careful to steer clear
of the vexed question of socialisa
tion. The present Prime Minister
has said that the Labour Govern
ment did not intend to socislise Aus
tralia just because we were at war.
Mr Curtin went on to say that that
was a clear and unqualified declara
tion of Government policy. Further
more, both Mr Curtin and the
Attorney-General (Dr Evatt) em
phasised that the Commonwealth
Government had no power to social
ise anything even with its wartime
powers. These declarations were
made before Labour gained a
majority in both Houses.
"Yet certain members of the
Cabinet were not of the same opin
ion. In fact, some of them were out
spoken in their advocacy of the
complete implementation of Labour's
socialisation policy. Their declara
tions went unchallenged by the Act
ing Prime Minister (Mr Forde) in
Mr Curtin's absence. Mr Forde has
announced the Government's inten
tion to socialise private airlines.
Confronted with the 'no socialisa
tion pledges of Mr Curtin Federal
Ministers declared that their action
had the Prime Minister's esdorse
ment. Consequently, the Australian
public will await with interest the
views of Mr Curtin on the subject
when he again assumes the reins of
omce.
Banking contr l
"Mr Ward, Mr Calwell and some
of their colleagues have for a long
time past demanded complete
nationalisation of banking. They
do not want a Commonwealth Bank
Board-all they want is someone in
control of the Commonwealth Bank
who will do what the Labour Party
tells him to do. It is obvious that
in the year ahead Australia is men
aced by socialism.
"With the spread of this doctrine
of sociallsation the life savings of
the people will be at the mercy of
a Government which has no time
for anyone but those who support it
politically. Nationalisation of insur
ance companies is threatened. Every
type of thrift and security will be
endangered i the Curtin Govern
ment has its way. The Country
Party will use all its endeavours to
fight and to expose the dangem of
socialtm.
Agriknturl Policy.
'"The Labour Government has
shown a complete lack of a realistic
agricultural policy. Agricultural in
dustries today are in a critical con
dition because the Government has
bungled everything associated with
rural production. We have made
constructive suggestions, but the
Government has turned a deaf ear
to our suggestions with the result
that today the rural position has
reached danger point. Shortages of
essential foodstuffs are in evidence
everywhere. It seems hkely that these
shortages will become even more
acute. As a consequence, there has
been a grave deterioration in Aus
tralia as a primary producing
nation. We must wage a relentless
battle for the attainment of stability
in our rural industries by fair prices,
adequate wages, proper living con
ditions and a general improvement
in the amenities of country ife?
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