GAGGED THROUGH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 24 November 1927, Page 5

GAGGED THROUGH

BILLS IN N.S.W. CLEANING THE SLATE. LIVELY TIME IN ASSEMBLY. (By Cable — Press Assn. — Copyright.] (Received 24, 8.20 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 24. The Opposition continues to give the Government an extremely lively time in Parliament. There were further stormy scenes in the Assembly during the discussion on a Bill to remove Mr. Kay, an ex-member of the House, from the Meat Board. The Labourites endeavoured to block the Bill at every stage and the Bill was eventually gagged through. It will' be remembered that Mr. Kay’s resignation of his seat to accept the appointment saved the Lang Government from being defeated, and caused political uproar at the time. Mr, Lang stormily protested that tho Bill was an attempt to repudiate a contract made by His Majesty’s Ministers. SYDNEY COUNCIL ABOLITION. BLACKMAIL ALLEGED. Sydney, Nov. 23. In the Assembly, during the debate on the Civic Commission Bill, Mr. Foster, Nationalist, made allegations that blackmail and toll were levied by the City Council officials He said that about four years ago he received a message that a certain official of the City Council wished to see him with regard to something wrongly done in connection with one of his buildings.

The official told him that there was something scandalously wrong with the building, and Mr. Foster said: “Then we must see your chief about it,” but the official replied “It is unnecessary to go so high.” Together they went into the variations in tho building from the schedule and he indicated that the variations all error on the side of additional strength. Mr Foster then asked him how he could justify the word “scandalous.” and he replied that he could arrange the matter, as Aiderman Bramston could square it. The case was not reported, nor did tho official ever intend to report it. and it was sufficient evidence that blackmail or toll was exacted by officials of the council. Then, amid scenes of indescribable uproar, in which all coherence vanished .the third reading was gaged through and the bill was sent to the Legislative Council. BILL IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Received 24, 8.2 oa.m.) Sydney, Nov. 24. Mr. Flannery, K.C., appeared at the Bar of the Legislative Council and lengthily pleaded the civil authorities’ case against the proposed abolition of thd City Council. COUNCIL’S DEPLETED TREASURY. (Received 24, 11.10 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 24. The Municipal Council is at present occupying a unique position in the history of local government in New South Wales. The council treasury is empty and no cash is available to pay wages and no income is expected before March next. The maintenance staff have been dismissed and the administrative officers have agreed to continue their duties and receive their salaries when funds are available. The Chief Secretary has decided that the mounted police be utilised to assist in regulating traffic in and around Sydney Casino. MEANWHILE THE UNEMPLOYED (Received 24, 11.10 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 24. A large bodv of the unemployed stormed the Trades Hall and took possession of one of the assembly halls, where they held a meeting.