AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1926, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

FAustralian it: N.Z. Cable Association.j , — t N.S.W. POLITICS. i (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) j SYDNEY, September 28. p Rumours of further disruption in the Labour Party over alleged bribery charges leml additional interest to the want of confidence motion to be moved |,v Mr Revan to-day. The new trouble c is the outcome of the caucus decision n to set up a Parliamentary inquiry in j opposition to the Premier’s desire for a Royal Commission and a crisis is predicted in some quarters. ( N.S.W. POLITICS. SYDNEY, Sept. 29. The report of the Public Accounts ‘ Committee tabled in the Assembly, disclosed that during the year ending dOth June, 1925, nearly five million sterling was paid away without parliamentary authority. In several instances, the ( report states the Departmental ex- , planation was that the excess of ex- |; penditure was due to the reduction o! (j their estimates. The system of pay - j. ing all accounts by the 30th. June, and s also the responsibility lor some unauthorised items. Referring to the pay- v ment of ten thousand sterling as com- v pensation to loyalist workers on the t waterfront, the report says the Com- t mittee is of the opinion that this pay- t ment by the Government is likely to ~ have a far reaching effect and forms ~ a most undesirable precedent. Such s payments should be made only after a ~ I'uil discussion in the House. alleged briber y. MR LANG'S CHARGE. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.l SYDNEY, Sept. 29. ' 7\lr T.ang during the reply on Mi ( Bavin’s censure motion in the Assembly referring to the bribery stories. ( said sitting in this House on the Go- . vernment side is an honourable mend oi who will tell the truth, and would make an oath that he was approached by a person known as Aoltairc Molesworth. a former member of the Assembly, now managing editor of the newspaper “Daily Guardian,” which is bitterly opposed to the Lalioitr Party. Molesworth approached a member of the Labour Party and said: “You can go to Katoomba, take your wife and family and have a holiday as long as you like, free of cost, and we will pay you £3OO cash towards the cost of the election if you will vote to depose Mr Lang from the Leadership of the Party.” Shortly after Mr T.ang made this statement, Mr Molesworth entered the Chamber and shouted out: “The Premier made statements here this afternoon. He is a coward and a liar.” The Sergcant-at-Anns hurried towards the intruder who turned and walked quickly out-of the Chamber. Mr Lang ignored the interruption. Air Molesworth later issued a statement saving there was neither substance nor truth in Air Lang’s cowardly allegation. He says: “If Mr Lang wilf do the one manly action in h' life, that is make the statement openly, then I " ill take the necessary steps to prove the untruth of the allegation." ILL-FATED CARGO. SYDNEY. Sept. 29. ATarine underwriters have been advised that the vessel Sea Serpent, into : which some of the cargo from • the wrecked Port Tvemhla’ was transhipped. arrived at Port Au. Prince with a lire in her hold. The vessel has been scuttled. ] CONFIDENCE IN LANG. SYDNEY. Sent. 29. After a lengthy meeting the Parliamentary Labour Caucus carried unanimously a rote of confidence in Mr Lang as Leader, giving him the victory in the fight which has been going on in Labour ranks,