MALING CASE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 363, 25 May 1928, Page 13

MALING CASE

THE 8UN f 8 SYDNEY LETT Ell

JOHNSON V. WALSH ROYAL COMMISSIONS SYDNEY, May 18. The most-discussed item of gossip, transcending in interest even the cooks’ strike, is the Maling case. Since his return last Saturday from New Zealand Mr. Mailing, formerly assistant manager of the electricity department of the Sydney City Council, has had his photograph in the Press every day. In many ways the case is unique, for with so large a sum as £10,600 at stake, the most primitive means were used to disguise the whole transaction, the very fact that any disguise was evidently considered necessary, in itself condemning the means employed. Mr. Maling, on his return from New Zealand last Saturday, was in a happy mood, declaring that he had benefited considerably by his sojourn in New Zealand, whither he went for his health. Immediately he landed here he was suspended from his duties, and the Royal Commission at once got io work to sift the evidence at its disposal. Sea Cooks Still Defiant

The sea cooks’ strike will go down in history as the most altruistic and Gilbertian ever launched, for the men are striving for a principle which at most can only benefit about 100 men. No extra pay or better hours are asked for, only the employment of two more cooks on passenger ships and one more on cargo boats. About 66 strainers are affected. To secure this aim, the stability of the maritime and transport unions is being jeopardised, while trade has been hampered for over two months. The intervention of Mr. Johnson, “secretary of the Seamen’s Union,” has complicated matte’s, for this step introduces the vendetta between Johnson and Walsh, former president of the Seamen’s Union, and this personal quarrel has caused trouble on the waterfront for some time past. Behind it all, of course, is the influence of Moscow, now openly recognised and utterly unchecked. If the tying-up of all inter-state steamers is carried out, it may mean the deregistering of the unions concerned, and out of the wreckage only a fraction of the present rights enjoyed by the men will be restored. Governor’s Son On Tour When he set out with his father on a tour of the country between Sydney and Broken Hill, young Lieutenant De Chair took a dictaphone with him to record verbally his own and other speeches in connection with the functions en route. The surprise of e trip was the language and general behaviour of an old man in hospital at Broken Hall, who exclaimed, with much profanity, that the Governor was only a man after all. If the dictaphone was in use at that moment, what a priceless record was obtained, and one which would cheer a dull winter’s evening in years to come! Perhaps the young sailor has other records of private talks which will be equally snappy and sensational when released. The Australian is nothing if not picturesque and fluent in his speech, and it will be a change from the stereotyped diary of a tour of this Kind to have a viva voce account of all that happened when the Governor v/ent to Broken Hill. Royal Commissions Unpopular Mr. Bruce’s promptitude in appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the statements regarding the sale of a Federal seat to Mr. Theodore for £S,OOO has been applauded. It has been claimed as a great achievement for the party. But Australia is getting tired of Royal Commissions. A moderately strong Labour Party would sweep the polls if the spectre of strike could be laid low for a time. The Bruce Government is considered by many of its supporters to rely too ir uch on commissions and too little on action by the Government. However, ot the polls the Royal Commissions will count for little, and whether a seat was sold or given away will not affect the result to any noticeable extent. The waste of public money on inquiries which should be carried out by Parliament and decisions made by it, is making people think hard on the whole situation, especially as unemployment is increasing every day and industries allowed to fail, w’hile overseas importations are increasing heavily. Coal Miners In Trouble Slackness in the coal trade is causing a disaster in the prosperous Northern coalfields of this Stater. W hole countrysides are on the verge of starvation, so that the Government has had to step in and start water and sewerage works to employ men during the winter, to the tune of £300,000. World-wide slackness in the trade no doubt has contributed toward this unwarranted situation, but the miners themselves have contributed too, as well as the owners. Warfare between the two has just about exhausted the export coal business, which truggled on intermittently till the markets overseas transferred their custom to other countries. The days when the sailing ships took coal to Callao and China are gone. Even New Zealand takes very little of the black for her railways, and the New South Wales coal miner wonders what has struck him.

WILL LAWSON