Australia Great Depression

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Why was there almost no violence in white Australia in the 1930s, despite the ravages of depression? Australia during the great depression experienced a unique hardship the country had never seen before. A nation far from industrialized this period was the darkest in Australian history certainly from an economic perspective. The rise of the United Australia Party lead by Joseph Lyons echoed the sentiments of the average Australians loyalty and underlying dependence to the British Empire. It was this connection to its British ancestor that was one of several factors that meant Australia somehow survived the great depression without much wide scale protest or violence spilling into the streets. If it weren’t for Lyons conservative values and…show more content…
He was critical of Australia's overconfidence and essentially said that Australia was "living beyond its means", that it had become prosperous through "mistakes" and that in order to become economically viable Australians would have to "accept a lower standard of living". The report also suggested that Australia’s protectionist attitude was deviating from its true purpose and that it should continue to exist only as a means to supply Britain with goods. This protectionist attitude was deemed to be detrimental to British interests and very beneficial to Australia. Australia’s politicians did not take Niemeyer’s comments lightly as they were fully aware of how important it was to have England on side. An ongoing relationship with England would ensure prosperity going forward and a rise from the…show more content…
Attard, Bernard. The Bank of England and the origins of the Niemeyer mission, 1921-30, University of London, London, 1989. 2. Bolton, Geoffrey, A Fine Country to Starve In, Nedlands, 1972 3. Broomhill, Ray, Unemployed Workers. A Social History of the Great Depression in South Australia, St. Lucia, 1978 4. Cain, Neville, 'Theodore, Edward Granville (1884 - 1950)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp 197-202 5. Fox, Len, Depression Down Under, Hale & Ironmonger, 1977 6. Hart, P. R. and C. J. Lloyd, 'Lyons, Joseph Aloysius (Joe) (1879 - 1939)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986 7. Hughes, William M. Bond or free : Sir Otto Niemeyers’ report, William Homer: Sydney, 1930. 8. Laing, J. T, The Turbulent Years, Alpha Books, 1970 9. Lowe, David, Riot Acts The History of Australia Rioting, ICS & Associates Pty Ltd, Sydney 1993 10. Lowenstein, Wendy, Weevils in the Flour: An Oral Record of the 1930s Depression in Australia, Melbourne, 1978 11. McCalman, Janet, Struggletown, Melbourne, 1988 12. Macintyre, Stuart, Oxford History of Australia, vol.4. The Succeeding Age, 1901 – 42, Melbourne,

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