TAMMANY IN SYDNEY

Evening Star, Issue 17731, 4 August 1921, Page 7

TAMMANY IN SYDNEY

CITY AOT3 STATE POLITICS. There is grave dissatisfaction in Sydnef over the manner in which tho labor junta is manipulating the parly machine not only in the State’s affairs, but in the domain ot municipal politics. Taking the latter first, it is charged against Lord Mayor Lamberl and his cohort of direct actionists on the City Council, where they sit tight with a majority of one over the Citizens’ League aldermen, that they are shamelessly working on recognised Tammany lines. Hero are some of the allegations made by tho ‘ Bunday Times' which, under the vigorous editorship of Mr M'Hay, is conducting a fierce campaign against them; By 11 votes to 10 the Gladstone Hotel has been “ referred back ” again, and the City Council continues to receive about £1 a week for a property which should he bringing, according to Alderman Meagher, £35 a week. The finance Committee of the council recommended that notico should at once be served on the tenant. Eleven A.L.P., A.W.U., and 0.8. U. votes immediately dropped on this proposal. Tho citizens of Sydney are beginning to asfc why the Labor aldermen of Sydney are so solid on allowing this hotelkeeper to make huge profits and pay next to no rent. The same “Why?” was asked when the Labor aldermen of Sydney determined suddenly (by XI votes to 10) to buy a coal mine which had not been developed, and when they made up their minds (by 11 votes to 10) to pay certain architects largo sums of money on a million-pound echemo to extend Moore street. By now it is a fairly large “Why?” Less obscure is tho reason why, by 11

votes to 11 (and tho casting vote of tho A.W.U. secretary), certain council employees were refused lime off to compote at the meeting of the National Rifle Association in Melbourne during October.

The ostensible reason given was that rifle shooting is a “ sport.” The real reason is, of course, that a man who shoots with a rifle is a “militarist,” and that ho may at some future data, when tho revolution comes along, “shoot down the worker” at the request of a capitalistic Government. The fact that these employees are workers, and that they are hardly likely to shoot themselves down, and that they are probably A.L.P. bondholders, and vote the right ticket, does not alter tho case. If they don’t shoot down the workers, they are nevertheless militarists, and will shoot down somebody—probably the enepiies of Australia or the aldermen. It is, Ad

doubt, precisely because rifle shooting is not a “ sport ” that the refusal was .made* According io an uncontradictsd Etatemoni by one alderman, cricketing employees had been given permission to go to Melbourne. Then there is the scandal over alleged roll-stuffing in the several wards of the city. A Special Commissioner has been appointed in the person of Mr Burton Smith, S.M.. to investigate tho bona iides of 5,318 claims for enrolment, ranging from three in Bourke Ward to 853 in that represented by Lord Mayor Lambert. Labor objects to the enrolment of Sir Samuel Hordern, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, and others who own property, though the existing law allows. “ owners'" and “ leaseholders " to ,voto in more than one ward. Some of the claims put forward on behalf of the lodger are amusing. A lodger for six months is entitled to a vote, and becomes enrolled; the day thereafter ho shifts to another suburb, and again enrols. There are hundreds of such cases. Hospital inmates who had gained enrolment were held to be entitled to remain on tho roll, as in human probability they will, on convalescing, return to their homes. Some people figured on the roll whose houses were non-existent; others had been in England for two years and even longer! The work of purgation will occupy many weeks. The City Council is also in disfavor because of letting a contract to a Melbourne firm for the supply of a 16.000 kilowatt turboalternator, the engineering trade of Sydney contending that it could have been turned out more advantageously locally. _ Thej pointed out, in connection with tho big elect trical scheme at Morwell (already dcsoribe4 in these columns), that though Sydney engineering firms tendered for the construction of turbo-alternators. “ none of this work was given to them, and so closely guarded axe these contracts that even when small parts were required there, aud the machine for making these parts was in Sydney, it was sent down to Melbourne to help the engineering shops there.” The letting of this work to Victorian engineers means finding employment for 300 men for two years, while over 100 engineers are unemployed in N.S.W. It transpired that the city engineer made a strong recommendation in favor of the local “shops” gating tk is work, saying; The City Council is. and must continue for a number of years to be. one of the very largest of buyers of heavy electrical plant in Australia. If tho council does not encourage the establishment and development of heavy electrical engineering plant in Australia it can hardly be expected that the development will succeed. The cost of making this plant locally may be considerably higher than the cost of importing it; but in my opinion tho extra money would

be well spent. Accordingly ho recommended that tho offer of the English Electrical Company of Australia to build the turbo-alternator in Sydney for cost price, pins 15 per cent., bo accepted; but tho Laboriles brought forward a resolution to accept the tender of tho Thompson X’roprietary of Ca.sUemaino (A :ct.) for £125,000. On this issue Alderman Meagher left his party and voted for the reference of the report back, with a view of assisting local industry and obtaining counsel’s opinion as to the Segal position; but the Lord Mayor ruled out all tho “reasons.” In its emasculated foun too amendment was carried, but it is thought, that Labor will carry out. its intention 10 send the contract "over the border.;’ In State politics the barometer points to a split in the Labor ranks if ill-health /mould compel Mr Storey to resign tire Prcraiersnm. There is still much feeling shown over (he Fuller knighthood and tho hurried of what is called the " Mystery Bill. J heu there were two distinctly hostile camps over the “official” reception of the returned 1 render. Mr J. H. Catfs, M.P., managed to cet into the limelight first, and arranged for a non-partisan welcome, cleverly puttin" at llio head of bis organisation uiff Herbert Maitland, a leading surgeon m Macquarie street. Tho Calk’s party applied for the use of the Town Hail, whion was refused hr tho LambsrUtcs too Lord Mayor being also head of tho A.L.P. It has also been whisoered that Mr Storey was anxious appoint Sir Joynton-Smilh censor of racing in tho State, but Mr Dooley I, Acting Piemier) and Ills colleagues would have none M it. On top of all this rumor _ declares that if all goes well, Mr Catts is to to made chairman of the Public Service Board —at a fat salary, of course, ilie forthcoming session of. the N.S.W. Parliament ought to bo very interesting.