NEW SOUTH WALES

Evening Star, Issue 19019, 14 August 1925, Page 12

NEW SOUTH WALES

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT FUTURE LEGISLATION. Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, August 12. The State Parliament was opened at noon. Amongst the chief matters dealt with in the Governor’s Speech were legislation for a forty-four-hour week: pensions for widows; the abolition of capital punishment; the abolition of night baking; provision for an adult municipal franchise; the re-admission of the Civil servants to the Industrial Arbitration Court; an extension of workmen’s compensation; a provision that when Anzao Day falls on a Sunday the holiday should be observed on the Monday; the Government’s intention to ruse tho income tax exemptions from £!-50 to £300; and to introduce a measure forthwith to remove the doubt which exists as to the eligibility of women for appointment to tho Legislative Council. Referring to the recent flotation of a loan in America, tho Speech declared that tho New South Wales Government did, not propose to depart from the practice or raising loans on the London market unless London was unable to meet the requirements. Regarding the reversion to singlosen,t electorates, the Speech said that in practice the Proportional Representation system had proved cumbersome, and had not realised the advantages claimed for it. Other measures will deal with the motor traffic problem, the provision of rescue stations in_ mines, the prevention of the aggregation of land into large estates, and the protection of the native flora.

Dealing with the American fleet, the Speech says it is hoped that the visit will have the effect of joining tho peoples of tho United States and Australia in the efforts now being made in the cause of world peace. At a pre-sessional -meeting of tho caucus It was decided to favor day sittings, Parliament opening at 10 in the morning, and closing at n at night. It was also decided to revert to the single electorates.

SYDNEY, August 13. The Premier’s motion in favor of day sittings was adopted by 44 votes to 40 after strong protests by Sir George Fuller and other Oppositionists. The Assembly met at 10 o’clock this morning. Sir George Fuller launched a censure motion in the form of an amendment to the Address-in-Reply—“ that the words, ‘ we desire to inform your Excellency that the Government does not possess the confidence of the House be inserted in the Address.’ ” This will enable Sir George Fuller to attack the Government on every possible subject.

CHANGE OF NAME. SYDNEY, August 13. In the Assembly Mr M. F. Bruxner, the leader of the Progressive Party, officially announced that the name of the party had been changed to the Country Party.