CABINET CRISIS IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 11

CABINET CRISIS IN N.S.W.

MINISTER RESIGNS OFFICE GOVERNMENT SAVED FROM DEFEAT MR SPOONER REVEALED AS RIVAL TO PREMIER (USITED PHESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received July 21, 2 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 20. A crisis in the New South Wales Cabinet culminated to-night in the resignation of Mr E. S. Spooner, Minister for Public Works and Local Government. Trouble had been simmering for some time, having originated in the efforts of the Premier (Mr B, S. B. Stevens) to restrict the scope of Mr Spooner’s activities on relief works and to transfer the control of them to a sub-committee. A heated party meeting disclosed that Mr Spooner had many supporters, and also revealed a threat by Mr Spooner to challenge Mr Stevens foj the Premiership. i There was a tense scene in the! Assembly when the Deputy-Leader: of the Labour Party (Mr J. M. Baddeley) asked for an inquiry into a statement alleged to have been made to a colleague by Mr Spooner that the Budget and the finances of the State had been faked. This the Premier indignantly denied. The House divided on Mr Baddeley’s proposal, which was lost by 32 votes to 29. The proposal would have been carried except for the failure of the division bell to ring in a room in which four Labour members were gathered. They were thus unaware of the division, and the Government was saved from a vital defeat.