21 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 2

Much depends now not only on the triangular con- ference

which has been arranged for Friday of this week after we have gone to Press, but upon the forthcoming by-election in East Sydney. Mr. Scullin, the Common- wealth Prime Minister, and Mr. Theodore, the Common- wealth Treasurer, are in the unhappy position of having earned the odium of the Labour extremists (by accepting the " three year plan ") without having placated the Board of the Commonwealth Bank. And they are also committed to strong opposition to Labour policy as it is professed in New South Wales. The Labour candidate at East Sydney is an extremist whose success would have sinister sequels.

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