NO DEFERRING OF BANK BILL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25305, 3 October 1947, Page 7

NO DEFERRING OF BANK BILL

Mr Chifley Comments On Victorian Move

“ACTION WOULD BE PRESUMPTION” (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) CANBERRA, Oct. 2. The Australian Commonwealth Government would not defer the introduction of its bill to nationalise the banks until after the threatened elections in Victoria, said the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley), in the House of Representatives. ‘lt would be presumption on our part to attempt to influence legislation before any State Parliament,” said Mr Chifley. “Similarly, I would regard any action tar*a State Parliament designed to Influence a decision by this Parliament as political presumption.” Mr Chifley added that the Nationalisation Bill would be introduced at the end of next week, or the beginning of the following week. CATHOLIC ATTITUDE ARCHBISHOP GILROY’S COMMENT (Rec. 7 p.m.) ) SYDNEY, October 2. “Only if the nationalisation of banking involves a moral issue will it be considered a subject on-which the Roman Catholic Church should advise its members,” said the Archbishop of Sydney (Cardinal Gilroy). “It is not yet clear whether the Government’s proposals do involve such an issue.” Asked to comment on the Government’s proposals, he said he would say nothing until he had acquainted himself with the full facts. “I want to know just what the Government itself has to say about it all.” he said, “not what someone else says the Government has said or is doing.” MOST N.S.W. MINES IDLE BIGGEST DAY’S LOSS SINCE MARCH 5 (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 2. All mines in the northern New South Wales coalfields, with the exception of a few small pits, are idle to-day, causing a coal loss of 35,000 tons. This is the biggest day’s loss since March 5, when every mine in the State was idle. The main coal consumers affected are the gas and electric companies and the railways. Sydney is threatened with gas restrictions early next week.