THE SYDNEY COMMUNE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 92, 20 April 1927, Page 6

THE SYDNEY COMMUNE.

It is to be hoped that the reports of the Labour Conference held during Easter at Sydney will not be taken too seriously anywhere outside of Australia. The peoplc'of the Commonwealth understand the situation precisely. They know that the conference was called by Mr. Seale on his own responsibility after he had been expelled from the Australian Labour party, and that Mr. Conrov, the president of the A.L.P., has declared" it to be a ''fake" or "bogus" conference, organised by the Communist minority. More serious is the conduct of the State Premier. Mr. Lang, who enjoys an unenviable but well-earne°d reputation for "rail-sitting," is alwavs anxious to propitiate the "Reds" when he thinks that he has anything to gain from their support, or anything to risk by opposing them. He attended this conference professedly with the object of reconciling Mr. Seale to Mr. Conroy and preventing a permanent split in the party. But his attitude toward the Communists has evidently aroused grave suspicion and resentment among his own followers. A secret meeting of Cabinet has been held, from which Mr. Lang was excluded, and at which he was censured for "handing over the Government of the State" to the "Reds." Further, it was resolved that Mr. Lang must not only sever all connection with Mr. Scale and his Communist following, but must express regret for having taken any part in the Easter conference. This reproof, along with a resolution expelling from the Government Mr. A. C. Willis, the "Red" Minister of Labour, may serve to bring Mr. Lang to his senses.