ELECTION DELAYED

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1935, Page 7

ELECTION DELAYED

IRREGULARITY ALLEGED SYDNEY’S WATER BOARD LABOUR PARTY TYRANNY RUSH BILL IN ASSEMBLY By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Sydney, March 20.. There was considerable excitement in the Legislative Assembly last night when not long before midnight Mr; B. S. B. Stevens, the State Premier, unexpectedly brought in a Bill to cancel the Sydney Water and Sewerage Board elections set down for Thursday. Mr. Stevens said the Government, had received information that a grave irregularity had occurred with, regard to one of the group constituencies, ostensibly with the object of destroying the secret integrity of the ballot. He read a circular from the Australian Labour Party (State of New South Wales) calling upon Labour aldermen in one constituency to record their votes in the presence of Labour Party officials. Mr. Stevens said that the circular provided a shining example of the tyranny within the Labour movement. The Government proposed to cancel the election and extend the board’s life for one month. New regulations would be framed in accordance with the principle of the non-party conduct of the elections, which would eventuate within the period to which the life of the board was being extended. Mr. J. T. Lang said the Labour Party did not purchase votes. In that regard it was unable to compete with its opponents and the only safeguard was to determine that individuals recorded their votes and that the opportunities of purchasing and handling votes should be eliminated as far as possible. On a motion of urgency the Bill was passed through all stages. Notice of motion of a similar Bill was given in the Upper House, but under the rules of that chamber 24 hours’ notice must be given. Consequently the measure will not be dealt with in that House until to-night.