PREMIER AND COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 20864, 6 August 1931, Page 9

PREMIER AND COUNCIL

POSITION IN NEW SOUTH WALES A POLITICAL STRUGGLE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY', August 5. In tho Legislative Assembly Mr Lang moved to disagree with the Legislative Service Salaries Reduction Bill, and tho motion was carried on a party division by 47 votes to 31. Mr Lang said it was quite evident that tho Legislative Council was assuming unto itself tho right to govern this country. The Government had purposely drafted its taxation Bills so that the burdens would fall on the shoulders of those who were best able to bear them. Indeed, tlio Government was definitely pledged not to attack tho wages of the lower-paid people in tho community, but tho Legislative Council had entirely’ defeated this object, first by throwing out tho Emergency Taxation Bill, and now by mutilating the Public Service Salaries Bill that if tho Government accepted tlio amendment it would bo tantamount to admitting that tho standard of living in New' South Wales was too high. Air T. R. Bavin, Leader of the Opposition saiil that the Premier’s criticism of the Upper House was unworthy. “ 1 hold in my hand,” ho said, “ a circular issued to-day by the Treasury ordering the withholding of tlio public servants’ salaries for the time being. This emphasises tho seriousness of tho Government’s xiosition, which is entirely duo to the senseless actions of tlio Premier. Ho is pursuing a bombastic course, arising from egotism and stubbornoss, which has brought tho country to its present condition of degradation. My suggestion is that if he cannot govern, ho had better make way for a Government that can.” THE COUNCIL'S DECISION WILL INSIST ON THE AMENDMENT. SYDNEY, August 5. Tho Legislative Council to-night, by 28 votes to 3.6, decided to insist upon its amendment to the Public Service Salaries Reduction Bill, and it is now formulating its reasons for the amendment. FINANCIAL CHAOS AN EMPTY TREASURY. SYDNEY, August 5. With an empty Treasury Mr Lang found it necessary to-day to instruct tho heads of Government departments to withhold salary payments to-morrow from officers of tho Public Service, but tho wages of men in the industrial services are to bo paid as usual. Although Public Service salaries are not being paid to,-morrow, the police will bo paid. Ministers and parliamentarians arc not affected by the empty Treasury, as they received their monthly cheques on August 1. ANOTHER DISPUTE THE BREAD CONTRACT. SY r DNEY', August 5. The Lang Government is now in hot water for giving a huge bread contract to Shadlors Ltd. Shadlers were relying on tho master bakers supplying the bread, but tlio latter are boycotting the scheme, assorting that tho price is not a payable one. The families of the unemployed arc thus finding it difficult to obtain broad with tho dole coupons. Tlio broad trade is so dislocated by tlio dispute that tho master bakers have given noti.’c of dismissal to 500 carters and scores of operatives. Tho matter lias been mentioned in Parliament. Mr Lang declared that tho people shall have bread, and ho threatens to take action against tho millers for withholding supplies of flour.

[A message received on Monday rom! its follows:—Many of Hie unemployed in Hie metropolitan area wore* unable lo secure the dole of bread to-dny owing to tilt! master bakers’ refusal to supply Sbadlers Ltd., who last week were, mvcii the Government contract to provide relief bread. Half a million loaves a week arc required, and the company is to receive its lid per dozen small loaves from the Government, and pay tlio bakers As Bd. The latter declare that broad cannot be produced at this price, and refuse to supply below 4s 3d, People to-day had to pay 5d cash, and those who were without money were not supplied.] INTEREST OH OVERDRAFTS REDUCED SYDNEY, August 5. The Commercial Hanking Company of Sydney Ltd. announces a reduction of interest on overdrafts of 1 per cent, from August .1. GOVERNMENT FACING CRISIS MO MOM EY TO PAY SALARIES. SYDNEY, August G. (Deceived August G, at 10 am.) The State Government is faced with the most acute crisis sinco ft assumed office. There will be no public service salaries to-dav. • The Upper House declined to depart from its attitude towards the salaries Deduction Hi 11, the council ins,sting on its amendments on the ground that under the Constitution it is entitled to amend any legislation. HOSPITAL IK DIFFICULTIES SYDNEY, August G. (Deceived August 0, at 10 a.m.i There was not sufficient money in hand yesterday to pay the salaries and Wages of the staff of the Poyal Princo

Alfred Hospital. The chairman of tho board of directors stated that tho quota from the Government was £I,OOO short in July. The hospital is steadily falling into arrears. The amount owing to tradesmen, etc., is about £15,000. THE LOAN COUNCIL GHANTS TO NEW SOUTH WALES WITHHELD. MELBOURNE, August 5. Tho Loan Council met- to-day. It was learned that tho Treasurers are unanimously opposed to recommending any further money for New South Wales at the present juncture. The matter will probably bo finished tomorrow. .I'ho delegates finished the reports regarding the measures which are being taken in the various States to give effect to the rehabilitation plan. LOAN COUNCIL REFUSES AID SYDNEY, August C. (Deceived August G, at 10 a.m.) The Loan Council's meeting at Melbourne refused to advance Mr Jiang anv money until be fully complied ivii.h the, Melbourne agreement. The treasurers expressed Die view that Air Lang must,meet his Public Service payments in the best way that- be can.