NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 28 December 1926, Page 9

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS

COUNCIL DEFIES MINISTRY

ANOTHER REBUKE FUR MR LAND

(Uy Electric, Telegraph-Copy l ight) (Australian & N.'.t Gaolo AHeocia.Uon)

SYDNEY, 21th Dc

in tlie Legislative Assembly to-day Air Lang introduced a Hill to‘amend the Alain Roads Act, under which the (lovenuneiit will earmark certain portions of the roads grant for revenue purposes. In the.face of strong Opposition protests Die Government applied the gag and rushed the Bill through all stages. . , The Attorney General, referring to the Legislative Council's protest against the alleged unconstitutional assembling of Parliament, quoted what he claimed as precedents for the Government’s action. The resolution, as far as he was aware, would have no etl'eet. It any protest was to be made. it. would have to he made through the Government, not to the Governor.

]n tlu> Legist dative Council Mr Willis moved as a matter of urgency that the House should consider the rescission of the resolution adopted yesterday, and moved the adjournment of the debate on the Appropriation-Bill. This was carried on the easting vote of the President of the Council. The motion to consider thy rescission was then put and negatived by 29 votes to 26. the Government’s second attempt to get the Appropriation Bill passed therefore went by the hoard. The Council passed the Newspaper Tax Bill by 27 votes to 11.

Air Ashton condemned the Bill because metropolitan newspapers, which were of most service to the country, would he taxed, while second-rate journals would lie allowed to go free. Mr Shakespeare, speaking on behalf of tlie country Press, denied that newspapers were profiteering, and declared that no paper in Sydney could afford to sell for less than three-halfpence, and undoubtedly if tlie tax were imposed the new price would he twopence.

PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS

SYDNEY, 20th Dec.

Botli Houses passed the final stages of the Newspaper Tax and Alain Roads Bills, involving Government taxation proposals, and adjourned till lltli January.

SENSATIONAL EPISODE

SYDNEY, 20th Dec

A sensational episode occurred in Parliament after both Houses had adjourned on Friday and the seasonal reunion had taken place. Members allege that Air Lang was attacked by Mr Voltaire Molesworlh, a former Labour, member, also that Air Moleswortli had an altercation with Air Keegan, a Labour member, who suffered slight abrasions. An unseemly scuffle ensued, during which Mr Aloleswortli received a cqt on tlie face. He was then escorted from the building.