AFTER THE DEBACLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 187, 9 August 1932, Page 5

AFTER THE DEBACLE.

MOVEMENT TO OUST MR. LANG.

MR. WIIXIS AS SUCCESSOR. EXTREMISTS' AMBITIONS. (Frojn Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 5. One very natural consequence of the rout of tlie Langites at the polls has been the manifestation of a desire on the part of Mr. Lang's followers tp blame him for their defeat. Ever since 1927 the email group headed by Mr. Jock Garden and Mr. Graves has been entrenched at the Trades Hal], in control of the State Labour party. It is now rumoured that a strong effort is being made by the " socialisation" section of the party to eject Mr. Lang and the organising secretary, Mr. Martin, together. It has been suggested that Mr. A. C. Willis, now freed from the burden of the Agent-General-ship, may allow himself to be put up against Mr. Lang as party leader. I am by no means clear about the precise meaning of " socialisation," or to what extent it implies Communistic doctrines. According to one account, the Communists charge the advocates of " socialisation " with having stolen their own Bolshevik policy. But in any case they want to get rid of Mr. Lang, and they are to be challenged by the GardenGraves faction, who will demand that they formally decftire their loyalty to Mr. Lang or leave the party. Of course, there are many difficulties in the way. Mr. Graves is supposed to hold office till 1934, but he might be deposed on the plea that he and his colleagues have failed to put the "socialisation" objectives of the party before the electors. Mr. Willis is an M.L.C., but if Mr. Lang would gracefully retire into the Federal Parliament, Mr. Willis could re-enter political life here by taking over the seat of some obedient follower in the Lower House. Much will depend upon the success of the extremists in the attempt that they are making to "capture" the Australian Trades Upion Conference, which takes place in Melbourne next month. Meantime, Mr. Lang has emerged from his temporary retirement and has been making speeches in his old truculent style. "They think that because we are defeated they have got away with it all," he said at Auburn the other night; but ho assured his cheering followers that he is not done with yet. "If I could have got rid of those old birds upstairs I would have shown you what could be done." This elegant reference to the Upper House was wildly acclaimed, and the general impression caused by reading the "Labour Daily" is that Langism is based as firmly as ever in the hearts of the people. Of course tlie "Labour Daily" laughs to scorn the idea of any plot against Lang, and charges the "capitalist" Press with having invented the story to "sell" the people. But the Langite organ's reputation for veracity stands no higher to-day than before the election, and it could not well fall lower.