ACTUARY CONSULTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26472, 28 May 1947, Page 5

ACTUARY CONSULTED

LAND SALES ALLEGATIONS IN AUSTRALIA Rec. 11 p.m. CANBERRA, May 27. The serious allegations made by a delegate to the Treasurer, Mr F. A. Lush, concerning the administration of land sales control in Sydney have caused grave concern among Government and Opposition members. Mr Chifley, who received a letter from Mr Lush while Cabinet was sitting late last night, conferred with the Commonwealth Actuary, Mr W. C. Balmford. The Opposition is believed to be preparing support for the request by Mr Lush for a Royal Commission or public inquiry into the matters dealt with in the letter.

According to a message published yesterday, sensational counter-allega-tions against the whole administration of land sales control were made in a letter from a delegate to the Treasurer, Mr F. A. Lush, to the Prime Minister. Mr Chifley said in Parliament last week that there had been favouritism in some land deals and announced that a “change had been made in the head of the Sydney Land Sales Control office.” Demanding a full public inquiry “to clear his name of dishonour,” Mr Lush alleged that certain rulings on property sales had been “ peremptorily ” countermanded from Canberra, resulting in “ gross favouritism ” to certain persons who received sale consents that were at “grossly excessive ” prices.