MR. LANG AMUSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 7

MR. LANG AMUSED.

SERIOUS LAUGHTER IN N.S.W.

MUST THE ADMIRAL GO? AND ARE MX.C.'s DOOMED? (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, says he is amused at the Press campaign against the Labour Government and the talk ahout Downing Street. He said the Legislative Council Abolition Bill was brought in as an answer to a direct challenge from the Nationalist Opposition. Mr. Lang added that he refused the right of anyone to order a general election. So long as the Government commanded a majority in the Assembly, it not only had the right, but it was its duty to rule. The Labour party was never more united on the question of the abolition of the Upper House. Mr. Lang then commented on the discussed recall of the Governor (Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair). He said it appeared to him, if he appealed to the Dominions office, he was sacrificing the self-governing rights of the people, but when the Nationalists memorialised Downing Street to reject the Labour Government's legislation, they were quite within their rights. When a Nationalist Premier demanded, and secured, the recall of the State Governor, he was something of a hero, but the mere suggestion that a Labour Government might be compelled to act in a similar manner filled the Nationalists with horror. He concluded that all the talk about Downing Street was moonshine. As every informed citizen knew, a State Governor was' the servant of the State, although provided with a 'handsome salary and a palatial residence at the expense of the State. "The only opposition to our policy comes from our traditional enemiea, and I would be unworthy of my trust, and a contemptible coward into the bargain if I were to lie down and submit to their dictation. It is rankest humbug to refer to a nominee house as a Chamber of Revision, when a review of the division lists shows convincingly that the Council is just as mucii a part}' house as the Assembly, and so lon£ as it remains in existence the Government of the day must have a majority thtre or submit to nominee rule. At ' present the Nationalists have a majority in the Council and that majority has deliberately planned to thwart the Government not only on the Abolition Bill, but on all vital Labour legislation. If the Opposition think the Government is going to be influenced by the torrent of abuse now being levelled at mc they are making the mistake of their lives.'*—(A. and N.Z.)

I/AKTG WANTS COGHLAN. A DISSOLUTION PROBABLE. (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. According to statements in political circjes the Governor has already given the Premier. Mr. Lang, to understand he can obtain a dissolution of Parliament if he desires to seek a mandate from the people on the question of the Upper House. The consensus of opinion in political Labour circles is that it i 3 the Premier's desire to see Sir Timothy Coghlan, at present Agent-General in London, in the position now occupied by Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) ALLEGED "KITE-FLYING." LONDON, March 11. The political situation in Xew South Wales is the subject of discussion in the lobbies of the House of Commons. It is authoritatively stated that the matter is still one for the decision of the State itself. An inquiry whether, if the Xew South Wales Government requests the resignation of the Governor, Sir Dudley de Chair, the matter would then become a question for Downing Street, elicited the reply that the situation had not arisen. Sir Timothy Coghlan, Agent-General for Xew South Wales, was seen regarding a statement that the Premier of the State, Mr. J. T. Lang, instructed him to urge the Dominions Office to recall the Governor owing to. the latter's refusal to appoint additional members to the Legislative Council. He sa:<jl he could neither confirm nor deny the report. He knew nothinsr about it and imagined it was mere Idte-flying.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)