Earle Page vs Lord Lytton

Earle Page was a key founder of the Australian Country Party (now the National Party) in 1920, representing rural interests. He became the party's first federal leader and served as its parliamentary leader for many years, shaping its platform of agricultural support and decentralization.

Page formed a coalition government with Prime Minister Stanley Bruce in 1923, with Page serving as Treasurer. The Bruce-Page government lasted until 1929 and implemented policies focused on economic development, immigration, and trade, with Page playing a key role in fiscal policy.

Page served as Treasurer of Australia for over a decade, from 1923 to 1929 and again from 1934 to 1939. He was instrumental in shaping Australian fiscal policy, including the establishment of the Loan Council and the introduction of uniform taxation during World War II.

Page served as Prime Minister of Australia for 19 days from April 7 to April 26, 1939, following the death of Joseph Lyons. He was appointed as a caretaker prime minister while the United Australia Party chose a new leader, but he was unable to form a stable government and resigned.

Page served as Minister for Commerce and later as Minister for Health in the wartime governments of Robert Menzies and John Curtin. He played a role in coordinating agricultural production and food supplies for the war effort, and was a member of the Advisory War Council.

During Lytton's tenure, a severe famine struck southern India, particularly the Madras Presidency and Mysore, from 1876 to 1878. The famine caused an estimated 5 to 10 million deaths. Lytton's government was criticized for inadequate relief efforts and for continuing to export grain while people starved.

Lytton organized the Delhi Durbar in 1877 to proclaim Queen Victoria as Empress of India. The grand ceremony was intended to assert British imperial authority and loyalty among Indian princes. However, it was criticized for its extravagance during a time of severe famine in southern India.

Lord Lytton, as Viceroy of India, initiated the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878 to counter Russian influence in Afghanistan. British forces invaded Afghanistan, leading to the Treaty of Gandamak in 1879, which gave Britain control over Afghan foreign affairs. The war was costly and controversial, and British forces later withdrew after a rebellion in Kabul.

Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, which imposed strict censorship on Indian-language newspapers. The act allowed the government to confiscate presses and punish editors for publishing 'seditious' material. It was widely criticized as repressive and was repealed in 1881 by Lytton's successor.