PUBLIC SERVICE TAX

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 150, 21 March 1931, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE TAX

Scullin’s New Scheme SAVING OF £1,000,000 Banker Warns Government FINANCIAL LEGISLATION By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Rec. March 20, 9 p.m.) Canberra, March 20. A scheme to tax the salaries of Public Servants to save £1,000,000 a year has been announced in the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. H. Scullin. “This tax must stand or fall by the tax on interest,” he said. “We will not allow one without the other.” Mr. Scullin mentioned that Sir Robert Gibson had stated that if the Government’s financial legislation were passed, the Commonwealth Bank would not carry out Parliament’s instructions. The Fiduciary Currency Bill debate is unfinished. Mr. Lazzarini, one of the Lang group, denounced the Federal Treasurer, Mr. E. G. Theodore, and his measure, which he described as a confidence trick scheme, which would not last three months. He intended, however, to vote for the second reading and move an amendment in committee, “That on or after December 31 next no person, institution, or association of institutions shall operate the cheque system under a penalty of imprisonment.” LOYALTY REPAYMENT Labour Conference Ideals BOY SCOUTS ATTACKED Sydney, March 20. On the recommendation of the special “Labour Army” Committee, the Labour Conference passed a resolution for the immediate boycott of all firms allegedly forcing their employees to join the All For Australia League. The conference also, at the suggestion of the Education Committee, decided to ask for the abolition without delay of Empire Day, saluting the flag and the weekly loyalty pledge in the public schools, and also the removal of the present checks on the importation of literature. The Boy Scouts were attacked as a militarist organisation, and the Chief Secretary, Mr. Gosling, was criticised for attending the official reception io Lord Baden-Powell. “When we see,” said the Education Committee’s chairman, Mr. McNamara, “a Labour Minister so far forgetting the ideals of our movement as to give a pat on the back to a man who is the symbol of this incipient Fascist organisation, it is time we called a halt.” GOVERNMENT’S IRE Bill Referred to Committee Sydney, March 20. The Legislative Council, by 33 votes to 24 referred the Arbitration Bill to a Select Committee. Mr. Willis, the Government Leader, said that the decision would be accepted as an intended insult. No Labour member would sit on the committee. During the debate Mr- PiUans, supporting the Bill, said that it would bring industrial peace. The provisions were drastic so that the workers would not have to bow the knee to foreign capitalists who were coming here and imposing unfair conditions. Mr. Browne declared that the Bill was vindictive and an exhibition of diabolical cunning. He protested against clause 13, constituting an Industrial Commission, which Mr. Boyce had described as enabling anyone to be appointed a Mussolini in industry. Mr. Browne said that he looked ahead with horror to the time when Mr. Jock Garden might be clothed with the Commissioner’s unprecedented powers. To try to amend the measure in committee would take months. The only alternative was a Select Committee. The State Assembly passed the Interest Reduction Bill under the guillotine,. and the measure was read a first time in the Legislative Council.