"WANTON ACT OF DISLOYALTY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1566, 9 October 1912, Page 7

"WANTON ACT OF DISLOYALTY.

.' LORD DESMAN'S EVICTION. By Teleeraph—Press Association-Copyrichl Sydney, October 8. The address presented by t'tie Lord Mayor to Lord Dennian, on his departure from Sydney, declared that "the wresting from its original purpose.of tho old historic house erected as an emblem of British power and a tangible guaranteo of protection by the Empire, may in all parts of tho world where the flag flics be construed as a wanton act of disloyalty as well as a personal insult to the highest representative of tho King in Australia. The address expressed "deepest sympathy with Lord Denman in this .'unparalleled outrage on national hospitality," and added;—" The agitation will continue until you receive an authoritative' message that the people of. New South Wales have demanded, in a voico tha.t must be obeyed, the re-opening of the historic residence for the reception of your Excellencies." • : ■ ■ (Rec. October 8, 10.5..p.m.) Sydney, October 8. Tho "Daily Telegraph" says the circumstances attending tho expulsion of Lord ond Lady Denman from Sydney Government House are scarcely creditable to the New South Wales Ministry. STATE CABINET'S CASE. .UNUSED VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE. When the Commonwealth was.established in 11)00, the New South Wales Government plnciia;'st*'..S.t|il9:'Oovcrnment House' nt tho/disposal 'of" the Commonwealth authorities for uso.as a, residence for the Governor-General, Victoria doing likewise. Tho.Commonwealth in return paid only the insurance and the actual ■ cost, of. maintenance. From time to time coinplaint wns made that the- Sydney building whs standing empty for tho greater part, of the year, and that tho GovernorGenerals on an average had resided in Sydney on less than 90 dnys in each year. Tho lease of the premises expired in August, 1911, and was temporarily extended from month to month. The New South Wales Premier, Mr. M'Gowen, in reply to a recent deputation, said that although the provision of a residence for the Governor-General was a Federal obligation, just as the provision of a residence for the State Governor was essentially a State obligation, the Govermnent'of New South Wales had been under tho following expense in regard to the Governor-General's residence sinco the advont of Federation t—Expenditure in , improvements, repairs,' furniture, etc.i 1901 to 1911, .£32,251. Tho capital cost.of the building, and furniture was provided by the Stato Government. The property was valued for insurance purposes to the extent of ,£105,250. Taking this conservative view of the original cost, and allowing the State i per cent, on it, showed £UGO per annum, 10 years of which equalled JJM.COD, junking the total_ btato expenditure since Federation .£76,834. Ihe average annual expenditure by the State since Lord Hopctoun went into occupation in 1900 was therefore .£7685. This did not include even nominal rental of the land—s4 acres. ' ' ' When showing the State's burden for vice-regal residences since the inauguration of Federation, the subject was not complete without slating that Craiibrook was purchased as a residence for tho Stato Governor at a cost of nearly .£25,000, and that during tho period that the State Governor had been displaced by the Governor-General tho State had expended between .£60,000 and .070,000 on Cranbrook. "I want to say," continued the Premier, "that I, can't understand the force of your .arguments with regard to. the historical associations of tho building being preserved. Wo are going to prcservo tho historical associations. We want to preserve them for the people of Australia, as well as for tho people of New South Wales. Ono would think you were under the impression that we were going to pull the building down. It's suggested that we might want tho Macquario Street front for offices. Nothing of the kind. That would be sacrilege. Tho lease has terminated, and it's the duiv of the Federal Government either to build a residence in the- terms of the compact or provide one for the Governor-General until they do. It's an unfair charge on Now South Wales to keep thnt place unused as it has been so long. Were compelled to take an acre of ground from tho people's domain'to extend the efficiency of the work of tho hospital, and we realise that we havo to give something in place of it. We want that place to bo open to the public."