Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 204
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Treasury
Special bundles
CGS 14194
Fortification of Albany and Thursday Island, 1889-1908
CGS 14194,
[10/4160]
Correspondence from the Australian Colonies expressing the need
to federate their defences following Major General J. Bevan
Edwards' report; cooperation on intercolonial defence of Albany,
King George's Sound and Thursday Island (includes plans);
intercolonial military conference, 1896; contributions by the
Australian Colonies to the fortifications and defence garrisons at
Albany and Thursday Island; valuing New South Wales' interest
when Thursday Island was transferred to the Commonwealth.
Services mutually rendered by Commonwealth and State
Governments, 1905-07
Accounts and returns from various State departments for services
rendered to the Commonwealth and vice versa. Also includes
correspondence on a conference of federal and state officers to be
held in Melbourne 9 April 1907 to discuss ways to avoid
duplication of work.
Papers re Commonwealth and State Relations, 1906-14
These papers cover a wide variety of matters such as old age
pensions, State loans and finance, banks, stamp duties, military
matters, assistance by State officials at federal elections and
payment for services rendered to the Commonwealth by the States
and vice versa.
CGS 14194,
[10/4159
part]
CGS 14194,
[2/8042.1]
Constitutional Crisis
Dismissal of a Premier and
Reform of the Legislative Council
Included in this section are records relating to the swamping of the Legislative Council in
1925 and later, efforts to abolish the Council in the late 1920s-early 1930s, steps taken
to avert abolition, the financial crisis and the dismissal of Premier Lang in 1932, and the
eventual reform of the Council in 1933.
The period from 1925 to 1934 was one of tumultuous change and conflict concerning the
constitution, powers and very existence of the Legislative Council. In 1925 the Lang
Government came to office with a program of social and economic reform. While the
Council had passed some of the Government's legislation such as the Forty-four Hours
Bill and the Widows' Pension Bill, four other Bills were rejected or amended.'2 The bills
not being passed in the Legislative Council included the Constitution (Amendment) Bill
whose purpose was to remove a doubt as to the eligibility of women to be appointed to
the Council. Faced with what he viewed as an Upper House hostile to his Party's reform
program, Premier Lang attempted to swamp the Legislative Council by asking the
Governor to appoint 25 Labor members to it.
On 3 December the Governor learned from the British Secretary of State for Dominion
Affairs that the matter was one which ought to be settled between him and his Ministers.
The Governor then offered to concede 15 appointments, but this was refused.
Subsequently, on 17 December, the Governor finally indicated to the Premier his
12
CURREY, C H, op cit, p.405
State Records Authority of New South Wales
201
