1 FEBRUARY 1930, Page 2

Australian Labour Mr. Scullin, the Australian Labour Prime Minister, is

trying to recall Australian trades unions to constitutional methods. On January 23rd he rejected certain proposals of the Australian Labour Party Conference which had urged him to disarm the New South Wales police and send military forces to control the situation in the coalfields of that State. The proposals cont ained other illegal points, and • Mr. • Scullin, in his refusal, administered a sharp rebuke. This could only have been done by a Labour Prime Minister, but a rebuke has long been needed. It is to be hoped that Mr. Scullin may be able now to mobilize moderate opinion throughout the Commonwealth.