N.S. WALES POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 29

N.S. WALES POLITICS

ANOTHER DEFEAT IN COUNCIL. SYDNEY, February 16. The Ministry suffered another defeat in the Upper House, the Council rejecting a vital clause of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Bill by 38 votes to 28. CHILD ENDOWMENT. February 17. . ,The employers are seriously concerned over the' prospect of a large increase in the wages bill when the Child Endowment Bill becomes law. They state that they may apply to the Arbitration Court for a variation of the Federal awards to reduce wages by 15s a week. It is held that without some such relief many businesses which are just holding their own or earning a small return on the capital invested will be forced to close, resulting in a large increase in unemployment. The Bill -was read a third time in the Assembly by 44 votes to 31. i UNITED PROTEST BY EMPLOYERS. SYDNEY, February 18. A meeting of employers’ delegates representing every branch of industry passed a resolution protesting against the child endowment scheme and foreshadowing action under the Federal awards to secure a i eduction of wages. THE MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE. ~ SYDNEY, February 18. The Legislative Assembly read a first time the Local Government Act Amendment Bill, which provides for an extension of the franchise in municipal elections to all adults and the exemption of church lands from taxes, except when they are held for investment purposes.