NEW SOUTH WALES LAID SCANDALS

Evening Star, Issue 12870, 20 July 1906, Page 6

NEW SOUTH WALES LAID SCANDALS

A MTSW STANDING ORDER.

Press AsaocKrfkm-Bj Telegraph-^Copyiigfat.

, ~ , ~ S\DNEY, July 20. In the Assembly Mr Chrrnthers moved the adoptxm of the new Standing Order prondmg that whenever it has been decided, whether before or after the approval of tins Standing Order, that the Bou.«e may not proceed <n a matter affeoW alleged muoondoet bearase thereby a member may be prejudiced at or pending a criminal trial, the House may suspend such member until the jury return a verdict or until it is further ordered. Mr Oarruthers said that the object of the motion was to ptit the House in the position that where criminal proceedings were pending, if Parliament was to ba sflent on the matter, the member who was charged with the offence should also be silent. It gave Parliament the game power as was held by outside tribunals to prevent itself being prejudiced by a stay of proceedings. The motion was carried on the voices after a short debate.. SYDNEY, July 20. (Received July 20, at 9.17 a.m.)

After the adoption of the new Standing Older,..Mr Garruthers moved a reeofeation for the suspension of Mr Crick until the jury in the criminal trial now pending had given their verdict, or until further ordered. Mr Crick was absent from the House, and Mr Camithers's attempts to communicate with han having failed, the debate was adjourned till Tuesday. Mr Carruthers also moved that so much of the Land Commissioner's report as related to the findings against Mr Crick, which had .previously been withdrawn, be restored to the business paper. The resolution w«s adopted.'

Writing on Saturday last, our Svchiey correspondent said:

Scandal upon souudal follows with deplorable regularity in connection with tlie New South Walee Parliament. In my last letter. I had to record a series of remarkable charge? brought by Mr Norton against the Labor, rnerriber Mt . Holman, resulting in the resignations of both, and an absurd appeal to the ■> constituency of the latter. This week we have had the miserable spectacle of tbe Girruihers Government failing in their duty to a, dishonored Parliament and - playing into the hands af ex-Minister Crick, who has been found guilty by Mr Justice Owen (acting as a Royal Commission) of brfbsiy. The Premder brought forward u make-belsirre motion to deal with Ciiek on the import of the Commissioner, and immediately put up Attorney-General Wade to quote parliamentary precedents to influence the Speaker to rule the motion out of order, on the ground that criminal proceedings on a, change of conspiracy are pending against Crick. The ex-Mmister has agreed to absent himself from the Assembly until the proceedings referred to are concluded, but tbe ruling of the Speaker prevents the question of the maladministration of the Lands Department being thoroughly gone into, and this is the question of the hour. The latest development at the time of writing is that Labor Leader -M'Gowan. who heads the Opposition, has given notice of another motion of -want of confidence, an the ground that the Government have " failed to enable Parliament to vindicate its lionor and dignity." This motion is destined to fa.il in the same -way a.s -the one brought forward by the Labor leader on tbe Address-in-Reply, because the Lather party have been supporters of Crick in the past. a.nd their success would mean that Mr M'Gowan wowld be caJled upon to form a Ministry. If the assault came from another quarter the retmlt might be different.

There is ru> eknibt that the .general feeling of the StaAe is thsut Crick should havebeen expelled on the finding of the Royal Commission, eveo though he has escaped convictilcn by the Criminal Court on the bribery charge, tlrrough the reticence of the witness Close and the break-down of the Crown case.' It if? • considered that if the Government bad not left the matter in the hands of a, weak.Speaker, who was unduly influenced by inapplicable precedents, Crick would have received his just deserts at the hands of Parliament. Quite apart from any criminal proceediiings, the political reputation of the ex-Minister came properly within the purview of the Royal" Commisrioner for consideration, and there is no doubt aibout las finding. He clearly adjudges Crick guilty of bribery, and it was the duty of Parliament to act on hie verdict. Herein the case differs altogether to the May precedents on which the Speaker Tilled. The matter presented a unique point, on which the Assembly -were entitled to create a new precedent. The report of the OornrauEsioneT, involving most important issues connected with the future administration of the Lands Department, cannot be dealt with without bringing in the illegal "conduct of Crick m extending certain improvement leares. and to say that the procedure of Parliament, must be stopped for fear, that he might be prejndiced in minor court proceedines is absurd. It has open pointed cmt thai if this principle of British justice mustinvariably be followed,"important parl»iroeot»ry action might be delayed No one has »owaoy_. faith in tiie earnestness of the Goveromelrrt to secure a. conviction against Crick,, and it is felt.that it'suits them to have the subject, daflied wilh. . Though the motion of no.-confidersce may fail, the indignation ,of,a section of the. Souse is so strong at the highly rrnsaitisractory. position which has been arrived. at "thai in all prdbajHlity the Government will be forced to take action, to have the nriing of the Speaker disagreed with.