CHEERS AND ABUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1932, Page 9

CHEERS AND ABUSE.

THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION. T.AVfr followers SURPRISED ACCUSATION OF "TREACHERY." (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 20. The part played by Sir Philip Game in the overthrow of the Lang Government was not only dramatic but decisive. No doubt his Excellency was glad that an opportunity had arrived at last for him to redeem his reputation in the public eye, as the guardian of constitutional liberty. For many weary months the Governor lias been the target for criticism and attack from countless quarters. Many peole, driven almost desperate by Lang's recent legislation, have condemned the Governnor for vacillation and cowardice, and abused him freely for not exerting the authority of the Crown to end this orgy of misrule. Even in a social and personal sense his Excellency lias been forced to feel that he has been under the ban of public disapproval.

Last week the "Bulletin" asked bitterly whether the Governor was waiting for a revolution, and even the "Sydney Morning Herald," though in a dignified and guarded way, appealed to the representative of the Crown to recognise that the cup of, Lang's iniquities was really full to overflowing. The "Sun" in Sydney, and the "Argus" and "Age" in Melbourne counselled patience, and urged the people to consider the dangers that the representative of the Crown would incur if he used his power unconstitutionally or inopportunely. Now, amid tlie tremendous revulsion of public feeling that spread instantaneously throughout the city and the . State when once the cry "Lang is out" was heard, Sir Philip Game is at last receiving justice at the people's hands. The uproarious applause that greeted him and Lady Game at the opera last night—what the "Daily Telegraph" calls an "unprecedented ovation" —was a wonderful demonstration of public approval, and as they left tlie theatre amid the prolonged cheers that echoed through the' streets, they must have found some, consolation for the unfortunate misunderstandings and annoyances and humiliations of the past twelve gloomy months. No doubt many of those who so ostentatiously removed their names from the visiting list at Government House are among the loudest in their plaudits to-day. How Labour Took It. Mr. Lang's followers were taken almost completely by surprise by the news of his downfall. At the Tra'des Hall they at first refused to believe the rumour, and Mr. Garden has been publicly credited with the remark that Sir Philip Game thought too well of Lang to turn him out! When the truth \y"as finally realised, the other Labour leaders naturally declined to say anything, and many of them have apparently not recovered from their stupefaction yet. The "Labour Daily," however, rose to the occasion on Saturday with a bitter and offensive attack on the Governor, for daring to Remove a Government which had just shown that it controlled a strong majority in both Houses of Parliament. The "Labour Daily" is, of course, stronger on vitu- . peration than on fine points in constitutional law, and it absolutely refuses to admit either that Mr. Lang was rightfully dismissed or' that the new Government can lawfully take his place. It prints "Premier" as Mr. Stevens' title ■ in quotation marks, and it has solemnly ■ warned Sir Philip Game that he has perpetrated a shocking blunder, for which lie is bound to suffer later on. Stubborn Ignorance. But there is a darker side to all this. The "Labour Daily" has never been very careful about inconvenient facts and truth, and in the last three issues it has left all its past record for mis--1 statement and misrepresentation far be- ' hind. Its Saturday's issue contained a cartoon, representing Lang as a "lone fighter," who having "downed" the banks and other doughty antagonists, is about to finish his fight with glory, when suddenly there rises behind him a cadaverous miscreant—a ghastly caricature of Sir Philip stabs him in the back. The "treachery" of the Governor is a tlieme which is evidently t destined to play a prominent part in the : coming election campaign. And those : who fondly imagine that such perver- ' sions of truth and reason will surely ' produce little effect upon the a\crage ' voter may be reminded that the "Labour 1 Daily" boasts of selling about 180,000 ! copies of its Saturday issue, and that ; the Langites constantly impress upon - their followers that they must not read ' "the capitalistic Press," and that they must limit themselves solely to the I "Labour Daily" for their information ' about public affairs. People in this state of mind will believe anything, and ' it is this ignorance, stubborn but vin- ; dictive, that is the best _ weapon of Langism and tlie most serious obstacle to the success of the Government parties.