POLITICAL CRISIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 266, 22 August 1936, Page 6

POLITICAL CRISIS

EIGHTEEN MEMBERS REVOLT. NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. THE GOVERNMENT IN DANGER. (United Pres 9 Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) . SYDNED, August 21. An extremely delicate situation has arisen in New South Wales politics, due to the revolt of a number of Government supporters, soldly members of the United Australia Party, against the Government’s newly-devised plan gradually to discontinue relief works in favour of fulltime employment of men on public works at award rates. The immediate effect of this policy will be the throwing hack on the dole of some 15,000 workers, mostly single men, who will be entitled to food relief orders valued only at a fe\v shillings. The Government, however, 'anticipates that these men, in the course of time, will he absorbed in regular employment, and will thus cease to be a charge on the State. At least 18 out of the 23 members of the United Australia Party, on the other hand, contend that these men, with possible dependents, will have to suffer great hardship in the interval, reminiscent of the depression days. The Government's action is described as over-sudden and retrograde, and feeling in the metropolitan electorates is running so high that, following a party meeting the 18 objectors to the' Government’s plan demanded that the Cabinet should suspend its operation for three months until the return of the Premier (Mr B. S. B. Stevens) from abroad. The Cabinet met to-day and discussed what is regarded as a virtual ultimatum for five hours, and finally rejected the request.

A noteworthy feature of the crisis is that the Country Party group of Government supporters has ranged solidly behind the Government.