FINANCIAL STRESS

Evening Star, Issue 21090, 30 April 1932, Page 13

FINANCIAL STRESS

NEW SOUTH WALES NO MONEY FOR PENSIONERS Frew Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 30. (Received April 30, at 10 a.ra.) Some members of the State Parliament drew their salaries from the Treasury, but the widows’ pensions, the mothers’ endowment, qncl the Civil Service pensioners’ superannuation were not paid. The last-named affects about 4,000 people in Sydney. The judges were informed that their pay would be available at the Treasury on Monday. THE COMMONWEALTH BLOCKADE FURTHER POWERS TAKEN. CANBERRA, April 30. (Received April 30, at 10 a.m.) Still more powers are taken by the Commonwealth in new regulations under the Enforcement Act in a special gazette. These empower the Commonwealth to require any State Minister or officer to furnish returns, reports, or statements showing what documents relative to any classes of revenue specified have been received or issued by the Minister or officer, whether copies have been made, and in whose custody or control the documents oi copies are. Under this power the Commonwealth intends to compel the New South Wales State authorities to disclose the whereabouts of taxation and other financial documents should they be hidden in an attempt to forestall Commonwealth enforcement.

Opinion in Commonwealth circles is that within a week the Lang Government will be entirely without resources. Some fears are expressed that the situation may provoke disturbances in Sydney on May Day. The situation is being closely watched from Canberra. THE LANG MINISTRY CHANGE OF PLANS SUGGESTED. SYDNEY, April 30. (Received April 30, at 10.30 a.m.) The 1 Herald’ says: “In view of the latest developments in the financial dispute between the Commonwealth and the State, it seems that the Lang Ministry has changed its plans. It is probable that a Bill to amend the Audit Act and to validate breaches will not be brought down during the parliamentary sitting next week. Drastic financial measures will also be delayed. Ministers hope that the Privy Council decision on the UpperHouse abolition will be delivered within a few weeks. If it is, the Government will not resign. If the verdict is deferred for a considerable time a General Election—probably in June—is regarded in political Labour circles as inevitable.” THE UPPER HOUSE CASE LONDON, April 29. (Received April 30, at 8.30 a.m.) The Privy . Council judgment in the New South Wales Legislative Council case is not expected inside a month. “ IF WE WIN!' STATEMENT BY MINISTER. SYDNEY, April 30. (Received April 30, at 11 a.m.) Speaking at Paramatta, the Minister of Education (Mr Davies) said: •• If the Privy Council appeal goes in favour of Mr Lang then the way will be clear for us to break away from Federal control. I myself will be one of the first to put my weight behind the movement for secession, and there are many others in my house with the same motto. If we win the appeal Mr Bruce and Mr Lyons will throw in the towel immediately.” LOYALIST UNIONS ULTIMATUM FROM MINISTER. . SYDNEY, April 30. (Received April 30, at 10 a.m.) Members of the three loyalist unions have been served with an ultimatum by the Minister of Transport (Mr M'Girr) informing them that they must join a *' boua fide ’’ union before the end of May. Loyalist leaders stated that the Minister was attempting to smash their unions because the railway employees preferred to belong to them instead of the Trades Hall unions.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

PAYMENT OF SALARIES, CANBERRA, April 29. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) having been asked by tho secretary of the New South Wales Public Service Association to provide the salaries of the New South Wales public servants iu the event of Mr Lang being unable to meet them, replied that the question was one for the Lang Government alone.

TRUST FUNDS

FEDERAL MINISTER’S ALLEGATION. CANBERRA, April 29. The acting Attorney-General (Senator M'Lachlan) stated in the Senate that the Federal Government felt impelled to introduce legislation to safeguard the interests of beneficiaries of

trust funds deposited in banks in the name of the Colonial Treasurer in New South Wales, which had apparently been used for other purposes. Senator M'Lachlan said he had definite knowledge that £483.000 of trust moneys had been paid into the banks, and all but £60,000 bad been withdrawn and seemingly spent in ways which were not in accordance with the trust conditions under which the money was held.