STATE TRANSPORT OFFICER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20563, 3 June 1932, Page 11

STATE TRANSPORT OFFICER.

CHARGES OF MISCONDUCT. ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED. (UWITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—B* UICTBtO TELKOBAIH—COPYBIGHT.) (Received June 2nd, 11.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 2. Judge A. Thompson (Western District Court) has been appointed a Royal Commissioner to enquire into charges of misconduct against C. •J. Goode, Chief Transpoi Commissioner, who was appointed by the Lang Gov- : ernment to that post after Goodc's dismissal from tlio Railway Department. NEW MINISTER'S • ALLEGATIONS. , POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS. SYDNEY, May 25. The Minister for Labour (Mr J. Dunningham) says tliat he has made a number of extraordinary discoveries feinco assuming office. Last week ho found that the former Minister,'Mr Baddeley, had made 258 political appointments for various Government positions, including the inspection of food relief. Mr Dunningham further alleges that three chairmen of conciliation committees, which function under the Industrial Commission, were appointed at a salary of £ls a week each, but one of the most extraordinary things ho discovered, he says, was that this expenditure was a charge against the food relief fund, established for the relief of unemployed. The Minister has suspended a number of officers who were employed iu his Department and who had been appointed by the Lang Administration. Tho reason given by Mr Dunningham for the suspension was that the officers had been engaged in the distribution of Lang plan and other political propaganda. They had informed recipients of food relief that if Mr Stovens was returned to power, ho would discontinue tho distribution of food relief to single men and others. SIR PHILIP GAME. QUESTION IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT. LONDON, June 1. In tho House of Commons Mr Stanley Baldwin (Lord President of the Council), replying to Mr J. Maxton (Labour), said he regretted he was unable to provide facilities for tho discussion of a motion relating to Sir Philip Game (Governor of New South Wales). Mr Maxton: Will you inform the Hoilbo whether Sir Philip Game acted constitutionally when he took" the drastic step of dismissing a democratically elected Government? Mr Baldwin: I think Sir Philip's action was totally constitutional; but this is not a matter to be dealt with by question and answer. It could be raised during tho course of the debate on tho vote for tho Dominions Office.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. POLICY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, June 2. Speaking at Wollongong, Mr B. S. B. Stevens (Premier) said tho Privy Council decision prepared tho way for the application of a policy of reform of the Upper House. "We are determined that the House shall bo reduced in size, and that its strength shall-be that of a deliberative chamber. For some time it haft been distinctly partisan, and we are determined that that shall cease."

BAG-SNATCiftNG. MENACE TO WOMEN IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, May 26. The sneak-thieves who rob women walking along ill-lit or lonely roads are increasing in. number, and have lecome a menace to women in the suburbs. Last night ten women were robbed of their handbags, and amounts rtnging from a few shillings to money and: jewellery valued at £25 were stolen. The police believe that organised gangs of men are operating, and are convinced that last night's thefts were the work of three sepaxjite bodies of malefactors. Every effort is being made by detectives to apprehend the men. In several cases the thieves struck their victims. In every case the bag-snatchers employed stolen motor-cars to provide a quick means of escape. Three cars were stolon from the city and employed on the work. The men drove up slowly behind unescorted women, one of their number leaped from the car,, snatched the bag, jumped back into the vehicle, and was driven off.

SYDNEY FERRIES. EFFECT OF HARBOUR BRIDGE. SYDNEY, May 25. A remarkable commentary on the effect of the opening of the Sydney Harbour bridge on the ferry traffic of the harbour is provided by the decision of Sydney Ferries, Ltd., to offer eight passenger ferries, nine vehicle ferries, and tho steam launch Argus for sale by public Auction. The passenger ferries to be auctioned include the large steel*steamers Kuttabul and Koonipartoo, which formerly handled the bulk of the peak-hour traffic on the abandoned Milson's Point service, as well as proving useful for thtf dispersion of holiday crowds from Taronga Park and other excursion resorts. The others are the Lady Carrington, Lady Napier, Kurraba, Woolahra, Lady Rawson, and King Edward. The whole of the vehicle ferry fleet, which has been rendered entirely inoperative by the bridge, will be put under the hammer. It comprises the modern steel fprries Kara Kara, Kalang, Koondooloo, and Kooroongaba, and the wooden vessels Killara, Kedumba, Kamilaroi, Barangaroo, and Benelon. i

CONVICTED OP MURDER YOUTH SENTENCED TO DSATH. (Received June 2nd, 11. 50 p.m.) ! SYDNEY, Juno 2. ! Maurice O'Hara, 19 years of age, a labourer, was convicted to-day of murdering Albert Victor Chaffey. O'Hara was employed by Chaffey. He expressed sorrow at bis crime, 'which was the outcome of a dispute over money matters. O'Hara, who was rocom mended to mercy on account of his youth, was sentenced to death. [On April 26th, Albert Victor Chaffey, a dairyman, was found dead in a yard at the rear of his home at Glen Innes. There was a bullet wound near the baso of his skull. He w&s a member of a well-known Sydney family, his cousin being a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.]