THE COMMONWEALTH.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17127, 23 April 1921, Page 11

THE COMMONWEALTH.

MR HtfGHES'S GtTT. (By Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.<j. Cable Aseocifction.) MELBOURNE, April 22. In the House of Representatives, Mr AV. M. Hughes, replying to Mr Brennan, stated that the presentation to him of £26,000 did not involve a breach of the Constitution. ' Sir Joseph Cook, Federal Treasurer, declined to answer a question as to whether Mr Hughes paid income tax on the gift, describing the question as contemptible. Mr Frank Brennan moved the adjournment to discuss the position of the Prime Minister in relation to his acceptance of tho gift of £25,000. He contended that Mr Hughes had forfeited his seat according to the section of the Electoral Act, which prohibited the acceptance of a. fee or honorarium by a membsr of Parliament. Mr Hughes, in reply, denied this, and challenged Mr Brennan to take tile ease to the place where it could be finally determined. POET DARWIN WAY. MELBOURNE. Atfril 22. v In the Senate tho Hon. G. P. Pearce explained that th© costly. removal of the trees at Port- Darwin was due to a threatened strike nr'ior to Sir Ross Smith's arrival. The Government was co'mpelled to surrender to the hold-up. [A recent message stated: —Figures supplied from Port Darwin regarding the cost of the removal of two trees from the aeroplane landing ground show that 20 men were employed for W days at a cost of £767, 'including £B7 for motor-cars to take the men to and from work/] . 0 I , "' * ' ' ',■'.. *'■' "■