OF NO AVAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1931, Page 7

OF NO AVAIL.

Lang Defeated in Upper House

Despite New Members.

INSURANCE DEPOSITS BILL.

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

The Lang Government was defeated in the Legislative Council by 41 votes to 39 on an amendment to the Insurance Deposits Bill. This is the first defeat of the Government since the appointment of 25 new members. There was no demonstration and the Council adjourned till Tuesday. .

Early' this year the Legislative Assembly passed the Insurance Deposits "Bill .on a strictly party, division, but several clauses were amended by the Council. The bill provided for the deposit by all New South Wales insurance concerns of fixed sums "as a guarantee of protection to policy holders." These sums ranged from £50,000 for Australian companies and £75,000 for British companies, to £100,000 for foreign companies, with some kind Of an accommodating eliding scale. When the Government demanded cash deposits, refusing Federal or State securities, suspicion was aroused. The Treasury was known' to be hard pressed to pay the public services, and the provisions of the bill seemed an easy way to obtain a cheap loan. The total appropriations would have amounted to many millions, arid the Government proposed a discount rate of only per cent.

The Upper House in May so amended the measure as to permit companies to lodge approved Government securities in lieu of cash, as a guarantee of the Ministry's good faith. (

NO EXTENSION.

QUEENSLAND RAIL STRIKE.

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

BRISBANE, this day,

There has been no extension of the railway strike in the north. .. In a number of towns the men refused to cease work but many were prevented by intimidation from carrying out the duties. The bill of the Premier, Mr. J. C. Moore, to insure maintenance of public services was read a second time,-after the closure had been applied.

RELIEF FOR DEPOSITORS.

SAVINGS BANK MERGER,

(Received-11:30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

The "Daily Telegraph" says that the State Cabinet will approve of the Savings Bank merger on Monday. It is expected that the old depositors will be able to draw up to 10 per cent of their sayings before Christmas.

KORANUI "BLACK."

SEAMEN'S DECISION.

SYDNEY, November 26.

Four hundred members of the Sydney branch of the Seamen's Union, the majority being militants, have declared "black" ;the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Koranui, and decided to expel the crew. The executive was instructed to notify the company that unless the crew were dismissed forthwith its entire fleet would be declared "black." \ The Koranui, however, sailed for Launceston this afternoon 'and no trouble was experienced. The Monowai, Makura, Maunganui and Marama are not likely to be affected by the union's threat.

OFFER DECLINED.

SYDNEY FLEET OF BUSES,

SYDNEY, November 26.

The Transport Board to-day declined the offer of 90 large buses made by Mr. F. H. Stewart, governing director of the General Omnibus Company and backer of "Wizard" Smith. No reason was given for the board's decision.