STATE-WIDE IMPACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 7

STATE-WIDE IMPACT

BATTLE AGAINST BANK BILL STIFFENING EFFECT OF VICTORIAN ELECTION Rec. 9 p.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 12. Every State in Australia is now feeling the impact of the struggle against bank nationalisation and it is apparent that the Victorian election result has had an immense stiffening effect cn the Opposition. The New South Wales Legislative Assembly last night rUOected by 42 votes to 32 a motion by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr V. H. Treatt, for a State referendum to discover the views of the people on the banking plan. Mr Treatt said the motion was urgent because of the economic effect of nationalisation on the State, and because of the inaction of the State Government it had placed the House under suspicion. The Premier, Mr James- McGirr, said Mr Treatt was “ trifling with the House.” In Victoria Mr T. T. Hollway sent a telegram to the Premiers of South and West Australia, stating that in view of the reported determination of 'the Commonwealth Government to gag the committee stages of the Bill he suggested an immediate conference in Melbourne to discuss a concerted plan of the Opposition. . In the Legislative Assembly of West Australia the Premier, Mr iD. R. McLarty, gave notice of motion, stating- “In the opinion of this House the action of the Federal Government in proceeding with its proposals for the nationalisation of banking without first conducting a referendum calls for the strongest protest from this Parliament on behalf of the people of this State. The Federal Government can claim no mandate from the people for such proposals which are in no sense necessary or desirable. This Government will not proceed with the Bill unless a referendum of the Australian people has been decided in the affirmatX In the South Australian Legislative Assembly the Premier, Mr Thomas Playford, was asked whether in view of the events in Victoria, the South Australian Parliament would be given the opportunity to express its view on whether or not the nationalisation of banks was detrimental to the State. The question will be repeated after a meeting of the Cabinet. The position in Tasmania is still obscure, but the possibility that Opposition will force an election is now considered less likely than earlier in the week. Serious allegations against the Tasmanian Premier, Mr Robert Cosgrove, made by a private road operator to the Leader of the Opposition,'Mr N. Campbell, may have an important bearing on the matter, in

the House of Assembly, Mr Campbell said he had received direct statements of improper payments made by road transport operators to the Premier on the understanding that protection would be given them. Mr Campbell read a statement by an operator claiming that in three to four years the writer and three other operators of road passenger services had contributed £IBOO a year in cash to Mr Cosgrove. Mr Cosgrove supported the motion for a Royal Commission and denied all the charges. An mquiiy will be held. ~ , Canberra correspondents say that the Federal Government has decided to force the Bank Nationalisaation bill through the House of Representatives by next Tuesday and that to achieve this the Government will use the gun lotine immediately the Opposition tries to prolong the debate in committee.