LANG'S SUCCESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 255, 28 October 1930, Page 7

LANG'S SUCCESS.

ELECTION ECHOES. British and Australian Press Comments. DOUBTS AS TO TUTURE. (United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright)

SYDNEY, October 27. The New South Wales general election results are still being computed, and the number of doubtful seats has been reduced to six. At the present stage of the count the state of parties compared with the position after the general election of 1927 is:— 1930. 1927. Nationalists .... 21 35 Country party .. 12—3 J 13—48 Labour . .■ 51 40 Ind. Labour .... — 2 Doubtful G — The latest iigures indicate that Mr. W. J. Ratcliffe (Labour) has retained the Barwpn seat, and that Mr. A. Landa (Labour) has won Bondi from', the Nationalists. Mr. W. Hedges (Country party) retains'the Monaro seat. In the six electorates still in doubt the leaders are:—Ashburnham, Mr. T. W. Keast (Labour); Dubbo, Mr. A. McLelland (Labour); Murray, Mr. J. R. Donovan (Labour); Yass, Mr. W. M. Webster (Labour); Young, Mr. C. E. Martin (Labour); and Burwood, Sir Thomas ■ Henley (Nationalist). Of the 1,195,892 votes so far counted Labour has polled 003,766. The Temora seat, which at first was doubtful, now appears to have been retained by Mr. H. Main (Country party). The Casino seat, which was credited yesterday to Mr. E. L. W. Vincent (Country party), now is uncertain, though it is sure to be retained by one of the same party's five candidates, probably Mr. J. T. Reid. Union circles are busy discussing the new Government's policy. It is stated that one of Mr. J. T. Lang's first moves as Premier will be to swamp the Legislative Council with prominent "Labour supporters, with a view to the abolition of that Chamber, which his party is pledged to secure. As the- Upper House at present has more members than the Legislative Assembly, other circles suggest that the Governor may demur to increasing the number sufficiently for Mr. Lang's purpose. The "Sydney Sun" says: "The people, of New South Wales have asked for the promised orange instead of the promised pill. It now remains for Mr. Lang to deliver the orange. As party, is no solution of the State's distemper it is the duty of all the citizens to ,assist Mr. Lang to give us that brighter future he hag promised. Our motto must be 'business as usual. , " ~ Labour Daily Jubilant. • The official Labour organ, tu2 "Labour Daily," displays on its front page to-day such headings as: "We Smash Calamity-Howlers," "State Again Saves Commonwealth," "People Decisively Reject Niemeyer." In an editorial article the paper says: "The terrible nightmare of Bavinism has been removed from the land. No Government elected under our wide franchise so flagrantly abused the powers bestowed upon it by a free people as did the Bavin Government. Every step was purposely designed to strike at the worker.". "The heavy clouds of misery and despotism, have given place to a brighter horizon. There will be very few mourners at the Government's obsequies. Mr. Lang will assume the Premiership with the largest following with which any Australian Labour leader ever faced Parliament. No doubt the other Australian Premiers will profit by Saturday's overwhelming Labour victory." Thei "Evening 'News" says: "The electors clutched at the promises made by Mr. Lang. These promises were, and are, impossible of fulfiment, but the electors desired to believe they could vote themselves into ease and happiness. Now will come the great awakening. "Mr. Lang's victory will not raise wages, nor will, it find work for the unemployed. On the contrary, his reckless financial proposals will throw more people out of work and reduce wages. His unprecedented majority will induce internecine strife and weaken the Labour party in Parliament, and before next winter the disillusioned electors may have, and seize, the opportunity of turning upon the man who duped them." The "Melbourne Argus" says it regrets the result of the election, and adds: "The die© were heavily loaded against Mr. Bavin, who risked unpopularity by taking firm measures to bring New South Wales more into accord with the. unpleasant facts of the current depression. He had to contend against Mr. Lang's long string of prodigal promises. Mr. Lang made a desperate gambler's throw, based o:i a shrewd knowledge of human nature. "One , satisfactory feature of the election is that-it emphasises the contempt in which Mr, W. M. Hughes' Australian party is held." ' The "Melbourne Age" says: "It would be folly to minimise the gravity of the decision of the New South Wales electors. This decision will damage Australia in many directions and certainly will have many far-reaching repercussions. It may be that another election in 1931 will' be necessary to record New South Wales' second thoughts." Feeling, in London. The "Times" says: "After the sorry record of Mr. Lang's previous Premiership, his return to office would_ occasion misgiving at any time, but it is doubly unfortunate at the present moment. Mr. Lang's campaign against Mr. Bavin was a campaign against the entire- policy of economy. Australian electors are likely to find that putting off the evil day will only intensify it. "For the Federal Ministry the situation is delicate and unpleasant, but Mr. Scullin's declaration that Australia's obligations will be honoured is the real Australian spirit, and makes us share Mr. Scullin's confidence that Australia will win through." The "News-Chronicle" says: "Labour seems to have won a decisive victory at the first " blush. Taking Mr. Lang's somewhat flamboyant stateawnts at their face value, it seems rather an unfortunate' setback to the prospects of a real financial settlement, but, in fact, j there is no cause for alarm. j "It may even be a good thing that I the wilder opponents of settlement on the only possible basis should be forced by the responsibilities of office to realise what the situation is. There, can .be no doubt what the result of the experiment toitt be."