PUBLICATIONS TAX

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 47, 19 November 1926, Page 11

PUBLICATIONS TAX

DENOUNCED BY NEW SOUTH WALES PRESS RUMOURS OF RIFT IN LABOUR PARTY Bi Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. Sydney, November 18. The newspapers, generally taking time by the forelock, are strongly denouncing Mr. Lang’s threatened tax on publications. It is described as mediaeval legislation which would press particularly heavily on the smaller country and suburban papers, and sound the death knell of a large numb»r of them, thereby adding to the unemployed roll. Country interests are also sore over Mr. Lang’s proposals to increase the railway freights and convert a portion of the main roads vote towards meeting other expenses. Rumours are rife that there is trouble among the members of the Ministry and in the ranks of the Labour Party over Mr. Lang’s proposals and methods. It is persistently reported that Mr. P F. Loughlin (Minister of Lands) intends to resign from the Ministry and challenge Mr. Lang for the party leadership. A stirring time is anticipated when the House comes’to deal with the vexed State Governor question and the Budget items. CRITICISMS OF ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS London, November 17. Mr. Lang’s proposed newspaper tax finds a prominent place in all the English newspaper headings. The papers express astonishment, and point out that he has gone back to the bad old days of 1712, when a tax was imposed in England and was finally abolished in 1855. MR. LOUGHLIN RESIGNS CONSTERNATION IN CABINET (Rec- Novem!>er 18, 9.5 p.m.) Sydney, November 18. Mr. Loughlin has caused consternation in the Cabinet by t esigning his portfolio. Efforts were made to get him to reconsider his decision until the caucus had discussed the position, but he declined. It is stated in the lobbies that he fnay cross the floor of the House in an attempt to defeat the Government, and then form a Country Labour Party. RESIGNATION FROM PARTY determined to overthrow GOVERNMENT. (Rec. November 18, 11.20 p.m.) Sydney, November 18. ' Mr. Loughlin stated that Lis resigna(ion from the Ministry carried with it his resignation from the Labour Party. He added in a statement to the House that he would declare himself and announce that it was for him to consider whether or not he should allow the Premier, in whom 1 e had no confidence, to carry on the business of Parliament. Mr. Loughlin said he was determined to throw the Government out of office, and that two other members of the Labour Party had intimated that they were prepared _to cross the floor with him, thus’ placing the Government in a minority of one. RESTORATION OF CLAUSE ON WHICH GOVERNMENT DEFEATED Sydney, November 18. In the Legislative Council the Government, by 35 votes to 27, restored to the .Fire Brigades Amendment Bill the clause on which it was defeated in the Council last week. The clause provided for an increase in the contribution of insurance companies towards the maintann'c of fre services from a third to a half.