PLOT TO KIDNAP MR LANG.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 11

PLOT TO KIDNAP MR LANG.

INFORMATION TO POLICE. DOCUMENTS SEIZED. RAID ON NEW GUARD'S OFFICE. (UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION—BT BLZCTBIO TELEGRAVII—COPYRIGHT.) (Beceived May 10th, 8.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 10. Detectives again raided the headquarters of the New Guard and seized a number of documents. The Police Commissioner, Mr W. H. Childs, subsequently released the following statement:— "We received information concerning a plot formed prior to the opening of the Harbour Bridge to kidnap the Premier, Mr J. T. Lang, members of the Cabinet, and police chiefs, and incarcerate them in the disused Berrima gaol, which allegedly was prepared for their reception. We are continuing our investigations and expect further developments." STATE TAXATION. CONFLICT OF INSTRUCTIONS NEW SOUTH WALES OFFICIALS BEWILDERED. SYDNEY, May 10. The State taxation officials are bewildered by the conflict of Federal and State instructions. From to-morrow they will be required, under the Federal law, to transfer Stato taxation money to the Commonwealth Bank. The revenue with which the Federal proclamation deals covers, among other things, motor vehicles, death duties, stamp duties, licenses, and lands. The Federal authorities have issued instructions to all postmasters in New South Wales that the salo of stamps from which the State collects revenue must cease. The Commonwealth intends to amend the Financial Agreement Enforcment Act to osxeinpt the funds of the New South Wales Superannuation Board, so that pensions may be paid by cheque in the ordinary way.

FAMILY ENDOWMENT TAX. MR LANG SEEKS REVENUE. (Received May 10th, 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 10. In the Legislative Assembly the Premier and Treasurer, Mr J. T. Lang, introduced a Bill amending the Family Endowment Act, by increasing the rate of taxation from 4.8 d in the £ to 5d in tho &. Mr Lang explained that the alteration was necessary owing to tho invasion of New South Wales resources by tho Commonwealth Government, which had deprived the State Government of banking facilities. Mr B. S. B. Stevens, Leader of the Opposition, claimed that under Mr Lang's new method of assessing tho family endowment tax, which would be payable with the wages tax, the Premier would get command of at least £600,000 almost immediately. It was a trick which could only be worked once. The increased taxation would amount to £250,000.

BUILDING TRADE. DECLINE IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, May 10. While the building trades in Melbourne and Brisbane have shown considerable briskness in recent months, the stagnation has become increasinly greater in New South Wales. the figures for March show that buildings sanctioned in Sydney for that month were valued at £84,280, compared with £411,905 in March, 1931. In Melbourne the figures for the first quarter of 1932 amounted to £494,346, compared with £186,823 in 1931. The Brisbane figures for April show that new buildings sanctioned were valued at £125,793, which is an increase of £96,355 on the figures for April last year. SEARCH FOR GOLD. PROSPECTING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, April 28. No important discoveries of gold have been reported as a result of the prospecting that has been proceeding in New South Wales in the last two years, but many men are obtaining a living who otherwise would not be doing so. Many men who went prospecting from Sydney have returned with the tale that "there is nothing in it." They do not convince all who hear their stories. Some consider that they have returned because it is easier to 101 l about the city on the dole. Others go out and thus, perhaps, keep the number of fossickers about the same. The approaching cold weather will send some prospectors home, but there is proof th;;'. many who are in what they consider to be good situations will see the winter through there. Oberon, oii the western side of the Blue Mountains, is one area that is holding a number of men who have lively hopes of procuring something worth while. They are content if for the present they make only a little. They have not only gold as the lure, but precious stones also. The largest diamond obtained in New South Wales is supposed to have been found there. Neighbouring mining country with wellknown names such as Hill End and Sunny Corner is receiving close attention. The North Coast is another district of which much is expected.'The quantity of gold won in the first quarter of this year shows that the amateur prospec-

tors are finding something. They are encouraged to continue by the reflection that the earliest gold-seekers were mostly amateurs. GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION. DEATHS OF TWO CHILDREN. ADELAIDE, May 10. Two deaths have occurred as the result of the explosion of gunpowder, which occurred when a man named Earle was extracting powder from cartridges. Gloria Earle, aged five, and her mother, Maude Earle, aged 33, died in hospital. The three others are still in a serious condition. j THE "NEVER-NEVER." DEATH OF JACK M'LENNAN. (Received May 10th, 7.30 p.m.) DARWIN, May 10. Tho death is announced at Katherine Waters of Jack McLennan, one of the principal characters in "We of the Never-Never," a book descriptive of Australian outback life.