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'CHEER UP'
LOAN
Premiers are
Hopeful
WJL'S PROSPECTS
Scope for Works
(From Our Special
Representative)
MELBOURNE, Sat.
Confident th^t a big stride
towards prosperity had
been made at the Pre
miers' Conference which
ended in Sydney yester
day, the Premiers of Vic
toria, bouth Australia
and Western Australia
reached Melbourne today.
Interviewed on the Syd
ney express, they empha
sised the hopefulness of
the outlook for Australia.
The coming year, they said, was not
going to be an easy one, and for this
reason there must be no lessening in
the efforts to reduce deficits, but . with
unanimity established among . the Pre
miers and a noticeable improvement in
public feeling there was every reason to
expect an early and marked revival in
industry and a lessening in unemploy
ment. The Premier of South Australia
(Mr; L. L. Hill) voiced the feelings of
ali three Premiers when he referred to
the special seven-million loan for un
employment relief works as the 'Cheer-
up' loan.
It was learned that the financing of
the first three months oi this loan were
completed before the Premiers left Syd
ney. Before the end of that period there
will probably be another meeting of
the Premiers to review the progress
which has been made in dealing with
unemployment.
SIR J. MITCHELL'S VIEWS
The Premier of Western Australia (Sir
James Mitchell) said that the expen
diture of new loan money in his State
would not only help to reduce his de
ficit, but would also assist the Eastern
States by increasing Western Australia's
purchases of secondary products. Eco
nomies in Western Australia had ocen
carried as far as they could go. The
relief, from dole payments which new
works under the loan scheme would af
ford . would help very considerably to
balance the States' budgets. Western
Australia presented wonderful opportu
nities for further reproductive works.
The loan money would probably be used
on irrigation, pasture and other water
works. The possibility of reviving the
Sold industry and of using part of the
money to assist private enterprise would
be thoroughly investigated. It had to
bs realised, however, that if secondary
industries were to be extended greatly
in Western Australia the Eastern States
would probably suffer . He thought that
one of the most hopeful signs was a
better understanding between counrry
interests and city interests in all the
States.
DRASTIC REFORMS NEEDED
Sir James complained that he had
been misrepresented during the sittings
of the conference concerning his views
on secession and reduction of deficits. He
agreed with other Premiers that deficits
must be reduced, and Western Australia
was going to play her part.
'I am certain,' he added, 'that the
ppople of Australia, cannot stand the pre
sent cost of- government as it is imposed
on them by. the present Federal . and
?State authorities. There will have to
bi.- drastic reforms or elan some States
?vill have to consider .secession. I .be
lieve that reform can be. brought .about.'
(Continued in page 2.)

'Cheer Up' Loan
(Continued from Page 1 )
VICTORIA'S
PART
Stimulating Industry
DRIVE IN S.A.
MELBOURNE, Saturday.
The Premier of Victoria (Sir Stanley
Argyle) said that Victoria's share for
this year of the new loan would be
£1,800,000. He was certain that the
use of this money in reproductive works
would do much to relieve unemployment
and to improve the State's budgetary
position.
'We are pledged to bring our deficit
down to £900,000,' said Sir Stanley, 'and
that will mean more economies. Failure
can only mean one thing and that is
default. New South Wales has agreed to
tackle something that is almost impos
sible. I am sure Victoria will not let
down New South Wales or the other
States.'
WORKS' PROCEDURE
Explaining the new loan In its rela
tion to Victoria Sir Stanley said that
the existing State Employment Council
would have the task of recommendins
works to be undertaken. The advisa
bility of using a part of the money to
stimulate private enterprise would be
fully considered.
MR. HILL'S PLANS
As soon as the Premier of South Aus
tralia (Mr. Hill) reaches Adelaide he will
launch an employment drive. He said
today that in this move he would seek
the co-operation of such bodies as the
Chamber of Manufactures, the Chamber
of Commerce, local governing bodies and
representatives of industry. In this way
the best means of using a portion of the
new loan money for stimulation of pri
vate industry could be arranged.
Mr. Hill added that he regarded the
next three months as of the utmost sig
nificance to the well-being of Australia.
Not only would the works programme
under the new loan be on trial, but the
likely effects of decisions at the Ottawa
and Lausanne Conferences wvild be
known. Australian credit was now at
its highest point since the deoression
began, and the effect of this on the con
version of the 13 -millions loan maturing
in London in November could not be
over-estimated.
FEDERAL TASKS

CANBERRA, SaVirday.
Now th'dz the P'^nrtrs' Confaieno1 is
concluded the Federal Government will
immediately set to work on its Budget
preparations.
The Prime Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons)
returned to Canberra by car today./' He
announced that a meeting of the Fed
eral Cabinet had been called for next
Wednesday in Canberra. Apart from
the Budget a number of matters await
the Cabinet's consideration, and the
meeting will probably last for several
days. A tentative date is likely to be
fixed for the resumption of Parliament.
August 17 has been suggested in of
ficial circles. The Cabinet will also
consider recent representations made by
New South Wales coal mining interest?
for the restoration of the Common
wealth subsidy of Is a ton on export
coal.
Before the Budget is completed there
will probably be a series of Cabinet
meetings, at which various economy
schemes will be thoroughly investi
gated.
SALARIES' CUT T^LK
One Minister has^ a plan which, if it
ever becomes known, that he is the
author of it, is not likely to enhance
his popularity with back benchers in
Parliament. He proposes that mem
bers' salaries should go back to the old
figure of £600. Some other Ministers
have recently dropped hints of an addi
tional cut in members' salaries, but
whether Cabinet will approve remains to
be seen. No decision has been reached.
Talk of another cut for members has
increased the anxiety of public servants
than their salaries will be reduced. A
big task lies' ahead of the Government
in its Budget. The prospective Budget
position for 1932-33 must be improved
by about £2,200,000 if the Common
wealth Is to live up to its promise to
the Premiers' Conference that it will
square the ledger.

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