FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1931, Page 6

FEDERAL POLITICS

N.S.W. IMPASSE

LANG’S NEW PROPOSALS

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, August 6

The Assembly having rejected the Legislative Council's amendment to the Public Service Salaries Reduction Bill, also refused to confer with the Council upon the subject.

The Premier announced to-night that as a result of a Conference of Treasury Officials that afternoon, lie was hopeful that' “reasonable” alternative proposals covering salary reductions would be evolved late to-night, and bo submitted to Cabinet to-morrow, and later to Parliament.

Mr Lang expressed the hope that the impasse will be overcome by the weekend.

It is understood these fresh proposals provide for reductions less severe upon the lower paid employees, but rather steeper on the higher officials. THE UNPAID SALARIES.' SYDNEY, August 6. Approximately twenty-three thousand members of the New South Wales Public Service did not receive any pay today. In addition to police and gaol warders, eleven thousand school teachers were not paid to-day, but the thousands of train drivers, conductors, railw.ayrnen, however, received their pay. Somebody hoisted a flag at half mast over- the Treasury buildings,. ■ but it : was later hauled down, and it remained- down. It was stated to-day that the police pay has also been withheld.,; bringing the total Public Service salaries deferred to £270,000. Replying to questions in the Assembly to-day, Mr -Lang said that the Government would not depart from its policy of protecting the lowest-paid workers. -He would not accept the 'Legislative Council’s amendment to the Salaries Reduction -Bill. LANG’S CHARGES. self-government GONE. SYDNEY, August 6. In the Assembly, Mr Lang assured the Leader of the Opposition, who asked, many questions about the failure to pay the public servants. Mr Lang said that there was no need to stampede the people. He added: ."If they keep their heads, all these difficulties will solve- themselves in a day or two.” Continuing, he said : “It seems to me that there is a, war of attrition going on against those who are poorly-paid, and the Government has got to resist it.” Mr Lang, at another stage, again ’attacked the Legislative Council. He declared that New South Wales no fohger possessed r self-government, -imfi' was now reduced to the status of a Crown colony with its Government acting only in an advisory capacity.” The Government’s measures were not accepted unless they were in conformity with the views of other people.; Thus, the Labour leaders would have to tell the people that it was no use trying to get legislation through by constitutional action. ... ~ ,

An opposition member interjected': ‘ls that a suggestion or a threat?’’ Mr Lang replied: “It is a fact.” ' REFUSAL OF FLOUR. FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. SYDNEY, August 6. The bread war took a dramatic turn to-day when the Cabinet had considered the situation that has arisen owing to the flour supplies for the bakeries co-operating with Shadlers Limited the holders of the Government contract for the , supply of dole or relief bread, having been stopped. • After Cabinet's consideration, a proclamation was issued which authorises commandeering of flour supplies, under the Flour Acquisition Act.

■Sixty-three trucks, carrying nearly one thousand tons of flour, -which was awaiting shipment to the, East, were subsequently seized at.. Darling Harbour.

The flour millers are incensed at this, as an interruption of the regular supply to Java and other Eastern markets is likely to endanger future orders and may benefit the Victorian millers, between whom the New South Wales millers there is the keenest rivalry for tfiis trade. WAITING FOR LANG, 'Received this day at 9.25 a.m) MELBOURNE, August G. The Loan Council is marking time in regard, to Mr Lang’s' request for half a million, and is awaiting his practical compliance of the conditions of the Melbourne agreement.