"POISON GAS "ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 5

"POISON GAS "ATTACK

ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. LABOUR MEMBER'S CHARGES. THE CLOSED WOOLLEN MILLS. (Received 10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Anstey's no-confidence amendment was defeated by 39 votes to 25. The third assault of Labour was then launched by Mr. Scullin, who attacked the Government over the sacrifice of the Commonwealth woollen mills at Geclong. When Mr. Scullin launched his attack he made sensational statements that j Melbourne warehouses were behind the Government, and were responsible for the doom of the woollen mills. He imputed the most sinister motives to Ministers, and claimed that the facts brought forward during the debate revealed' a state of alTairs rivalling the 80-caUed wireless scandal. After Mr. Bruce had indignantly replied expressing resentment at the sinister motives imputed to Ministers, the motion was defeated by 34 to 26, the voting being on strictly party lines. The burden of Mr. Scullin's attack was that the Government had been influenced by Flinders Street interests in selling the woollen mills. He declared that the money masters hated the mill because it was taking their profits and because it exposed their profiteering. He said that a concern worth £100.000 had been sold for £155,000, and alleged that the Returned Soldiers' Association offered security of £57,000, but this waß turned down in favour of those offering* much smaller security. He attacked Ministers' motives in connection with various phases of the transaction, and declared that if Labour were returned to power they would be justified in resuming the mill for the people on the same basis as it was sold. During the debate Labourites referred to a "hidden hands" conspiracy, and the . power of money operating behind the Ministry. Mr. Bruce, replying, stated that the Government had twice called for worldwide tenders for the mill, and accepted the best price offering. He declared that Mr. Scullin's estimates were made in the boom years of the woollen trade, and would not stand now. In regard to the soldiers' offer, the demand in that direction had greatly fallen off, and the mill's usefulness in supplying the Government was ended. The real issue between the Ministry and the Opposition was that the Ministry wae opposed to Government trading enterprises, and the Opposition advocated them. Mr. Bruce warmly declared that there was not a scintilla of truth in the i charges against the good f\ith of the Ministry. They had done everything in the full light of day. He concluded that they had stood three attacks by Mr. Charlton with hi" artillery. Mr. Anstey with light artillery, but the worst bad fallen to Mr. Scullin. He produced poison gas.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) DAZZLING HEADLIGHTS. ■ i ■— ■ ■ earn THE CLEVEDON FATALITY. SPLENDID CONDCCT OF NURSE. '"We crossed the bridge almost blinded by the lights of the second car on the road in front, and after crossing the bridpc we came into the full glare, and could not see at all," was part of the deposition of Mr. Allen Spence, solicitor, at the inquest yesterday afternoon, touching the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Edith Patton Chenery who lost her life in a motor-car accident near Clevedon early on Saturday evening. 'That Mrs. Chenery was accidentally drowned by reason of the car falling into the creek," was the verdict of Coroner J. E. Wilson. Dr. J. Wallis. of Clevedon, stated that in his opinion deceased had suffered from shock, and she might have been drowned while unconscious. The driver of the car, John Matthew Ward, stated that he was driving the party from the residence of Mr. J. Brown, seven miles from Clevedon, to the Papakura railway station. He was driving slowly, and on crossing a bridge going down-hill he saw a car with dazzling head-lights approaching. It was difficult to see. He applied his brakes and pulled into neutral gear, intending to wait till the approaching car had passed. The car was practically at a standstill when it commenced to topple. Owing to the glare of the lights he was not sure of his position, though he knew the road well. The coroner stated that the accident was not dv? to any want of skill on the part of the driver, and made special mention of the conduct of Miss Doris Edge, B, nurse, who worked unselfishly to revive the other members of the party, despite the fact that she was nearly drowned herself, and unconscious when removed from under the car. Her efforts were untiring to resuscitate Mrs. Chenery. All who were at the scene of the accident speak highly of the splendid behaviour of Miss Edge. She refused to receive attention herself for over an hour till her companions in misfortune had been made comfortable, thus living up to the best traditions of her profession.