N.S.W. POLITICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 December 1926, Page 5

N.S.W. POLITICS

another bill passed. against strong opposition THE GAG APPLIED. UY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, Dec. 24. In the Assembly to-day Mr. J.'-Lamg (the Premier) introduced a. Did to amend the Main "Roads Act, under which trie Government will earmark a certain portion of the roads grant for revenue purposes. In ttie lace of strong Opposition protests the Government applied the gag and rushed the, • Jiii. through all stages. LEGISLATIVE COUNCI L S PROTEST. EFFORTS TO RESCIND IT FAIL. SYDNEY, Dec. 24. In the .Legislative Assembly the At-torney-General, referring to the Legislative Council’s protest against the alleged unconstitutional assent bung of Parliament, quoted what he claimed as precedents for the Government’s action. A resolution, so far as lie was aware, would have no effect. If any protest was to be made it would have to be made to the' Government, not to the Governor. .. __ . In the-Legislative Council Mr. W illis moved, as a matter of urgency, that the House should consider the rescission of the resolution adopted yesterday, and moved the adjournment ot the debate on the Appropriation Rill. This was carried on the casting vote of the President of the Council. The motion to consider the rescission was then put and negatived by 29 votes to 26. The Government’s second amendment, to get the Appropriation Rill passed, therefoie went by the board. The Council passed the Newspaper Tax Rill bv 27 votes to 11. Mr. Ashton condemned the Bill because the metropolitan papers, which were of the most service to the country, would be taxed, while the second-rate journals would T»<? -allowed to free. Mr. Shakespeare, speaking on behalf of the country press, denied that the newspapers were profiteering, and dedared that no paper in Sydney could afford to sell for less than three halfpence. Undoubtedly, if the tax were imposed, the new price would lie twopence. FISTIC ARGUMENTS. SYDNEY, Dec. 25. A sensational episode occurred. in Parliament after both houses had adjournecl on ITriday, and the seasonal reunion had taken place. Members allege that Mr. Lang, the Premier, was attacked by iMr. Voltaire Molesworth, a. former Labour member; also that Mr. Molesworth had an altercation with Mr Keegan, a Labour member, who suffered slight abrasions. An unseemly scuffle ensued, during which Mr. Molesworth received a cut on the face He was then escorted from the building. TAXATION PROPOSALS PASSED. SYDNEY, Dec. 26. Both Houses passed the final stages of the Newspaper Tax and Main Roads Bills, involving the Government taxation proposals, and adjourned until January 11.