MORE SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 18

MORE SURPRISES.

IN.S.W. UPPER HOUSE. SECOND ELECTION BALLOT. FEDERAL LABOUR'S SUCCESS. §j (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 23. The second batch of members in the 'reformed Upper House were elected this week. Government expected to secure 10 seats—seven for U.A.P. candidates and I three for U.C.P. men—leaving five to be divided between Langites, Federal Labour, and any Independent nominees. The forecast was not quite accurate. Only six seats went to U.A.P. candidates; one of those who was expccted to succeed —Dr. Maguiie, a prominent professional man .and a leading Free Mason —being beaten through an informality in a paper which would have given him a valuable preference vote. The Country party voting, a* usual, us a solid "bloc" secured its three *eats, and the Langites returned four members —including "Pat" McGirr, brother of James McGirr who is generally regarded as a possible successor to Mr. Lang in the control of the State Labour party. But to the surprise of most people and the chagrin of the Langites, two Federal Labour men were also elected—proving once more that the A.L.P. is by no means so dead as the Langites desire. Distinguished Members. On the whole this ballot did not arouse so much interest as the first, and the 15 members elected for the second, or nineyear term, will compare favourably with their predecessors. Sir Samuel Walder, ex-Lord Mayor and prominent business man, and Sir Norman Kater, also a public man of long experience and an influential member of the Country party, are among the more distinguished of the successful candidates. The voters seemed more at their ease than before, and though one of them, Mr. Reed, of Manly, who has a great reputation for independence, took two hours to "write the ticket," the task in most cases was ! speedily accomplished. The rumours of i corruption which were circulated freely | during the first ballot seem to have subsided, and the notice which some would-be humorist put in the voting chamber, "Gentlemen! All bets are off!" seems to have aroused no resentment.

Mr. Piddington's Tirade. The "Labour Daily" declares that the Nationalists were completely routed, because they secured only six seats instead of seven, and particularly bccause they failed to get a seat for Mr. J. Ryan, the only Minister standing. But that is a small matter compared with what Mr. Piddington has been saying in Melbourne about the ballot and the "reformed House." Addressing a meeting of union officials in the Mel-, bourne Town Hall, Mr. Piddington—who is on his way to London to support the Langite appeal against the Reform Bill before the Privy Council—declared that "the new council would have powers greater than any second chamber in the Empire, and no legislative assembly could stand up against it."' He described the new system as "a complete, deliberate and hypocritical pretence of representative government"; asserted that all faith in tjie "reform" measure had < disappeared, that "members loathe it and the country is sick of it," and, further, alleged that he had been told that he could receive a nomination for the new Legislative Council, but that "it would cost a few hundred pounds." As Mr. Piddington is the chosen confidant and [ally of the Langites, and the only politicians and public men at all likely to give him their "vote and influence" at the ballot, would be the Langites, his story reflects unkindly upon his associates and friends. But it is not likely that reckless assertions and malicious insinuations will serve Mr. Piddington's purposes when he comes to state his case before the Privy Council.