ABOLITION MOVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 287, 4 December 1930, Page 7

ABOLITION MOVE.

N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE ' Repeal Bill Passes All Stages. BAVIN SLATES LANG. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, tins day. In the Legislative Council tin debate "was concluded on the bill tc repeal the Act, which stipulates thai the .Council shall not be abolishec until a referendum has been helc upon the subject. The bill was carried through a.- stages on the voices and sent to the Legislative Assembly. Surprise is expressed at the unusual tactics of the Opposition members who : however, still maintain that a referendum will be necessary before the Governor can assent to the measure. The claim of the Government that the Ministry has secured a mandate from the electors to abolish the Chamber is stoutly denied. The view was expressed last night that before the Governor could give Royal assent to measure, the Courts would be moved to test the constitutionality of the new legislation. Speaking in the Assembly Mr. T. R. Bavin, Leader of the Opposition, described the action of the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, in asking the Governor, Sir Philip Game, for 40 additional appointments to the Legislative Council as the most unreasonable and most senseless request ever made of any Governor of any Dominion. Mr. Lang's actions were earning for New South Wales the reputation of being a sort of political madhouse, said Mr. Bavin. Evidently he was attempting to create a constitutional crisis in order to divert attention from the fact that he could not fulfil his pre-election promises. HEAVY LOSSES. N.S.W. RAILWAY FINANCE. SYDNEY, December 3. The annual report of the Railway Commissioners for the year ended June 30 states that the earnings totalled £17,826,092 and working expenses £14,962,423. Interest charges amounted to £0,420.643 and the Government's contribution towards the losses on the working of the country's developmental lines amounted to £SOO.OOO. The net loss on the year's working was, therefore, £2.756.374. The tramway losses amounted to' £285..2-14.