Victorian Legislative Body Forces Early Election

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1947, Page 5

Victorian Legislative Body Forces Early Election

Rejects Bill in Gesture Against Nationalisation of Banks

(N.Z.P. A.—Reul Received 7.55 p.m. At a meeting today the Viet decided to hold an immediate elec This follows a decision by th ing last night to reject the Goverr The Opposition decided on tl fating an election which it will banking issue. Meanwhile, public servants are demonstrating because the rejection of the Supply Bill has held up their fortnightly pay cheques, due tomorrow. Railway men, whose pay is due next Thursday, decided this morning to join a demonstration and held up all suburban trains between noon and 2 p.m. The Public Service Association organised a protest meeting at 1 p.m. today in the quadrangle behind the State offices. At noon the Victorian trading banks announced that they would honour any cheques drawn on them by the Victorian Government “regardless of the political situation with respect to Mipply." The banks offered to advance immediately to any State civil servant who goes unpaid tomorrow the equivalent of wages or salary, free of interest, or charges. The Ministry is expected to introduce a Bill as soon as possible in the Legislative Assembly to provide for two months' supply, and to ensure the acceptance of the Bill by the Legislative Council by agreeing to an election about November 15. The State Premier (Mr. Cain) lias already indicated that another Supply Bill will be introduced. If this is passed public servants in the metropolitan area will be paid tomorrow, and those in the country in few day’s. The Legislative Council rejected

Her—Copyright.) MELBOURNE. Oct. 2 toria Cabinet is believed to have etiem. he Legislative Council at a moetnment Supply Bill. his course in the hope of precipiI fight on the nationalisation of the Supply Bill by 19 votes to 13 as a manoeuvre to force the Government to resign. The Council took this action after Sir Frank Clark had made the nationalisation of banks an issue in the Supply Bill debate. The law says that an election must take place not earlier than 20 days and not later than seven weeks after a dissolution. Tiie State Electoral Officer says that the printing of the electoral rolls for 1,500,000 voters will take three weeks. Public servants who are in danger of not receiving their pay tomorrow comprise 10,000 teachers, 2000 police and 13,000 permanent and temporary public servants. “In this very Bill the Government asks us to provide the fees of the leading counsel who put the Government's case in the challenge against lhe Banking Act in the High Court," said Sir Frank Clark, in opening the Opposition attack in the Council. He was referring to the fact that the Melbourne City Council successlully challenged the validity of a section of Jhe Act compelling the local authorities to bank with the Commonwealth Bank. He said that tha Supply Bill was closely related to th* nationalisation legislation. There were precedents for rejecting a Bill, 'but no precedents for what confronted Australia today. .