SECOND SUPPLY BILL REJECTED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25306, 4 October 1947, Page 9

SECOND SUPPLY BILL REJECTED

Victorian Legislative Council’s Stand

STATE PREMIER REFUSES TO RESIGN

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) MELBOURNE, October 3. Late last night the Victorian Legislative. Council rejected a second Supply Bill sent up from the Legislative Assembly, the council insisting that it would grant supply only if an assurance were given that the Premier (Mr John Cain) would seek the dissolution of Parliament. After the second rejection, the Premier was still adamant that he would not resign, and would thereby place on the Opposition the responsibility for the non-payment of publie service salaries. The Opposition was equally insistent on placing this responsibility on the Government. The present position is a stalemate, as the Council has adjourned till Tuesday. The Premier has given r.o indication of his intentions in the meantime, but political circles believe that there is no alternative to a dissolution in spite of the Premier’s declaration that he will not resign.

It was stated officially in Canberra to-day that the Commonwealth cannot come to the assistance of Victoria so that it can pay its public servants. The reasons are that such a payment is not within the scope of any existing appropriation act, and that if such an act were passed it would certainly be declared unconstitutional, as the money would not be raised for the purposes of the Commonwealth in conformity with the Constitution. The Commonwealth could make a grant to a State, but the position would be unchanged, as the State would have to pass an appropriation bill before it could legally take the money over.