GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 258, 31 October 1932, Page 12

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

RATABLE PROPERTY? ADMISSION CHARGED FOR CHARITY FETE. LABOUR ALDERMEN'S ACTION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 21. Recently a highly-successful fete was held in Government House grounds, in aid of the Bush Nursing Association. The Labour aldermen on the city council have asked that the city solicitor be requested to state whether, in hi* opinion, as a charge was made for admission to the fete, Government House is not now ratable; and if the answer is in the affirmative, the city council must request Sir Philip Game to "pay up.'"

Of course, Government House, being Crown property, is exempt from rating when used for State purposes only. But the charge for admission at the fete, legally speaking, may make all the 'difference, and Alderman Garden and his friends are asking, if hospitals ar» rated, then why not Government House? It has been suggested by the "Labour Daily," which is naturally most anxious to annoy or embarrass his Excellency, that, as Government House grounds have thus been thrown open for the purposes of public enjoyment, all sorts of charitable institutions and public organisations might benefit by the change —the stevedores, perhaps, might be allowed to hold their annual picnic there! I do not know whether this is seriously intended, but the "Labour Daily" seems to be quite in earnest about, another suggestion, that if Sir Philip Game or Mr. Stevens should raise any objection to the rating of Government Hoyse, the city council might let the Governor off on' condition that, all children's playgrounds in and. around the city should be made, rate free. . ; v :

No doubt Mr. Jock Garden can be trusted to use this weapon to. the utmost advantage; and the incident illustrates very aptly the lengths to' which the Labour extremists are prepared to carry their vendetta-against Sir Philip Game because he dared to dismiss Mr. Lang.