MEAT BOARD CHANGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 11

MEAT BOARD CHANGE.

NEW SOUTH WALES BILL. MEASURE PASSED BY COUNCIL. (Received December 1, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Dec. 1. The Legislative Council has passed the bill providing for the removal of Mr. A. D. Kay from the Meat Board. A message from Sydney on November 24 said there were stormy scenes in the Legislative Assembly daring discussion on the bill to remove Mr. A. D. Kay, a former member of the House, from the Meat Board. Labour speakers endeavoured to block the bill at every stage, but the bill was "gagged" through. The Premier, Mr. T. R. Bavin, said that in Juno, 1926. the then Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, feared some dissension in his party, which could be avoided if the seat held by Mr. Kay was given to a pledged Labour man; therefore Mr Lang approached Mr Kay, and asked if he would accept some office. Mr. Kay accepted a position on the Meat Board at a salary of £ISOO a year, the salary of Mr. Simpson, whom Mr. Kay displaced, being £IOOO. Mr. Simpson had to be found another position. Mr. Kay was wholly unqualified for the position to which ha was appointed. That was the contract which the Government was seeking to undo. Mr Lang had really offered Mr. Kay £7500. payable at the rate of £ISOO a year, to betray his constituents so that the majority of the Government might be increased. Mr. Bavin said tbf nosition would be that Mr. Simpson would be placed back on the board until the hoard was reconstituted.

Mr. Lang said Mr. Bavin had made statements that lie and Mi*. Tvay had done something that was dishonourable, hut he had nothincr to prove it. Mr. Kav had relinquished his position in Parliament and was appointed to the Ment and he had done his work well Ho protested that the hill was an attempt to repudiate a contract made by His Majesty's Ministers.