DOLE BREAD CONTRACT AROUSES SUSPICION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6626, 12 August 1931, Page 7

DOLE BREAD CONTRACT AROUSES SUSPICION

Royal Commission Demanded

UPROAR OYER BAVIN’S MOVE United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Eeceived Tuesday, 9.50 p.m, SYDNEY, Aug. 11. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. Bavin, moved in the N.S.W. Legislative Assembly for a Royal Commission to inquire into the circumstances under which Shalders were given the Government dole bread contract. He declared that the arrangement with Shalders and its sudden unexplained' abandonment created suspicion in the mind of the community. Mr. Bavin urged Chief Secretary Gosling for the sake of his own reputation to agree to the inquiry as Shalders Company consisted of men of straw. The Chief Secretary, in reply, explained that the Government embarked on the contract because the master bakers were charging too high a price for relief bread. The Crown Solicitor drew up the agreement but no penal clausa was inserted because the GovernmenV had the right to terminate the contract the moment the supply of bread broke down as actually occurred. It was quite untrue to say the caucus instructed him to cancel the contract. Mr, Bavin's motion, which evoked a great proar, was defeated in a strictly party vote by 45 to 33. Mr. Gosling refrained from voting.