N.S.W. POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1931, Page 6

N.S.W. POLITICS

THE TAX BILL. (Australian Press Association.) ■SYDNEY, June 29. The debate on the Government Emergency Tax Bill began in the New South Wales Legislative Council this afternoon, when the National Opposition Leader, Mr E. S. Boyce, declared that the only honest course was to reject the> measure. He said that he was, however prepared to agree to the continuance of the present tax of one shilling in the pound until the Government had carreid out the resolutions of the Premiers’ Conference. Mr J. M. Concannon, the VicePresident of the Executive Council, in moving the second reading of the bill, emphasised the> Government’s grave financial plight, and also tire inability to find money for Government services on July Ist, and for the relief of the hundred "thousand unemployed in the State, many of whom are on the verge o. starvation. Mr Concannon appealed to the members to be humanitarian and to make a sacrifice for the needy. H.e warned the members of the' possibility of strife and violence following upon a cessation of the State’s social welfare activities, and he also reminded them that the Government was pledged to relieve the unemployed and to provide work.

TAXPAYERS’ CHORUS OF HOSTILITY.

SYDNEY, June 29.

The taxpayers of New Smith Wales are anxiously awaiting the verdict of the Legislative Council upon Mr Lang’s Emergency Tax Bill, which would deprive the taxpayers of 25 per cent, of their earnings. The whole country has been stirred to indignation, public bodies everywhere demanding that the Legislative Council should turn the Lang Government out. Taxpayers in other States are wondering whether this is Mr Lang’s last desperate throw. The All for Australia League issued a statement entering an emphatic protest against the. Lang Wage Tax Bill, ft adds: Mr Lang should appeal to the people Indore any legislation which is so definitely designed to wreck the Premiers’ Conference plan. Introduced in a sermon at St. Matthew’s Church, Manly, Rev. E. Ebbs said: “Mr Lang’s proposal is most unjust and introduced bv a discredited Government. The Wage Tax Bill will increase unemployment and accentuate our present chaotic conditions. I hope our people will rise in angry protest from one end of tlie- State to the other, and express their indignation by refusing to pay the tax if imposed.” The “Telegraph” says that Mr Lang’s wage taxation proposals may exhaust the Commonwealth fields ol taxation. It is understood that they have led to an instruction being issued to the Federal Treasury officials to

ascertain the extent to which the Commonwealth Budget position will be affected. The House of Representatives is likely to remain in session, while the legislation is before the New South Wales Parliament, so that the Federal revenue interests may he safeguarded. If the Bill is passed the Commonwealth Budget will have to be drasticfillv reviewed.

LANG DENOUNCED

(Roceivod this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 30

In the Legislative Council, James Ashton described the Bill as a definite move to Sovietise the country obviously conceived by J. S. Garth n. secretary of Trades 'Hall Labour Council and h s Soviet disciples.

There was a peculiar connect on between this Bill imposing a capita) levy, and Governments intuitions iitul>T the Transport Bill now before the House. The Taxation Bill was design,d to bring everybody down to one level, the Transport Bill would enable the Government to obtain complete political m ans of transport, and if necessary tot;’paralyse the whole transport system. A section of labour men were the pliant tools ol the Communists and others were hopeless dupes, who were now ready to carry out 'Russia's dirty work.

Edward GrayndLr, General Secretary of the Australian workers’ union, characterised the Bill as iniquitous. SYDNEY, dune 30.

The Legislative Council had not reached a division at midnight, but it is regarded as certain that the Bills will be rejected by a big majority.

TAX BILL TURNED DOWN. VIEWS OF MEMBERS. (Received this day at 9.2>> a.m) SYDNEY, June 30. By the same majority the Council passed a motion demanding the withdrawal of the Bill. Two other Labour tiomfness. Coates and (1 revndlor, denounced, the Bill on behalf of the Australian W Ckcr.s’ Union', Miners Federation and Federal Public Servants. Browne said the measure was designed to force repudiation on all other Cm eriiments of Australia, thus making the path easy for Sovietism. Speaking in reply, Mr Couoannon said Government would shortly announce its intention to give effect to the economy proposals, to reduce expenditure by four millions pounds. It was estimated that a shilling in the pound tax would produce seven millions a year .which was inadequate. No definite undertaking had been given by the banks to finance the Government if' they set about giving effect to the decisions of the Premiers’ Ccnfer-

t tlt-f. He denied that Ooveriunji.t " Bie seeding to introduce So-. .etisra m Australia. * PRESS COMMENT. SYDNEY, tl"uiit 30. The “Herald ’ says a substantial section of the Labour caucus bitterly opposed tlie methods which Mr lamp used to enforce discipline "ithin the Party. Up to the present those memhers feared to come into the open ar.d revolt against their leader, but it was generally believed in political circles (hate at an j>pportuno moment, a section will make its protest. In vie’" of the widespread opposition to the Premier’s financial .proposals, some members think that the time for plain speaking lias arrived. According to a statement from Mini - ferial circles, there i.s a likeTlro" tint Mr Lang wil ask the Governor to make additional appointments to the Upper House to ensure tlie passage of tlie'r financial measures. Ministers are n t sanguine that the request will be accorded to.