AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 19712, 12 November 1927, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

j THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED. Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright. CANBERRA, November 11. The censure motion was defeated by 30 votes to 23. CONFIDENTIAL CABLES DIVULGED. IMMEDIATE INQUIRY. CANBERRA, November 12. (Received November 12, at 10.5 a.m.) During the debate on Mr Charlton’s censure motion certain confidential cables dealing with the negotiations for tlie sale of the line wore quoted in tiie House by Mr Hughes and Mr Brennan. Mr Bruce has now announced that it is proposed to undertake an immediate inquiry into the manner in which such messages were obtained. He said that while there were differences of opinion on tho question whether the ■ information contained in the cables should have been disclosed officially, there could bo nothing but alarm at tho fact that it was possible for the contents of confidential communications to bo divulged. PROFIT FROM OIL REFINERIES. CANBERRA, November 12. (Received November 12, at 10 a.m.) Sir George Pearce announced in the Senate that tho gross profits from tho Commonwealth oil refineries last year amounted to £112,427, and a net profit of £69,200, __ MEW SOUTH WALES DEPLETED TREASURY. SYDNEY, November 11. In the Assembly Mr Bavin delivered Die Financial Statement, and said that tho present financial outlook, although full of difficulties, was not so grave that it could not be dealt with successfully by intelligent, prudent methods. The present Government was determined to exploit every avenue and give all- its energies to _ endeavor to strengthen the economic position and restore public confidence. Owing to its recent assumption of office the Government could not give an exhaustive Financial Statement to tho House, but could state that tho deficit left by the Laug Government amounted to over £4,225,000. The Government would endeavor to reduce taxation, but with the state in which it found the Treasury that would be a hard matter. It was hoped, however, by careful management and‘sane government to put tho State on a sound financial basis. > Mr Bavin then gave notice of the introduction of Bills to terminate tho appointment of Sir Kay to the Meat Board and place the administration or the city under a commission. WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED SYDNEY CITY COUNCIL. FIGHT AGAINST REPLACEMENT. SYDNEY, November 12. (Received November 12, at 9.25 a.m.) The recent unemployed propaganda activity has resulted in Mr Bavin declaring" that the Government intends to provide work for the unemployed in the shape of reproductive public works. The members of the City Council are preparing bitterly to fight Mr Bavin s scheme for the replacement of the council by the appointment of a commission. The Labor section _is particularly chagrined at Mr Bavin s statement in the Assembly that he did not include the Reform < aldermen in his criticism of civic administration during the past three years, thus allegedly trying to win over the Reform aldermen to support his proposals. The Lord Mayor is taking steps to force a full open discussion of the council’s administration, with tho declared intention of showing that the Reform aldermen as a party are equally as guilty of the alleged malpractices in civic administration as are tho Labor aldermen. SOUTH AUSTRALIA . INCREASED TAXATION. ADELAIDE, November 12. (Received November 12, at 9.25 a.m.) The Treasurer, in submitting increased taxation proposals, said that the Government was compelled to raise additional revenue, not only to meet the shrinkage of receipts, but to provide for a shortage of £1,050,000 in the revenue, exposed in the accounts for last year’s office of the late Government. • '