N.S.W. ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 124, 28 May 1935, Page 11

N.S.W. ELECTIONS.

MR. STEVENS' CHARGE.

"LANG IS A SPENT FORCE."

RESULTS IN RETROSPECT.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) * SYDNEY, May 23. During the week the counting of the preferential votes cast in all the electorates has been completed, and it is now for the first time possible to make a definite statement about the Government's position in the new Parliament. A certain amount of interest, was imparted into the closing stages of the fight by the fluctuations of the voting in tho last doubtful constituencies. Eventually, Granville was retained by the U.A.P. candidate, though only by a majority of 82; the State Labour can-' didate won Arncliffe by a majority of 580; Petersham went to the U.A.P. by 025 votes, and Bathurst, after an exciting struggle, went to the Langites by a majority of 44.').

The outcome of all this was that, though the Langitcs won back, by comparatively small majorities, five of the seats that they lost, also by small majorities, in the "landslide" of 1032, the Nationalists are again in office with their strength virtually unimpaired. The exact figures are: —U.P. and U.C.l'. combined, 01 seats, Labour 29 seats, iu a House of 90—Mr. Stevens thus holding a majority of 32, which, it will be observed, is greater by three than thtwhole voting strength of the Langitcs. Taking everything into account, the Premier has every reason, to feel the satisfaction that he has already publicly expressed, with the results of the polling. Mr. Stevens claims that in spite of the desperate efforts of Labour to misrepresent the political and economic situation, over 200.000 more votes supported the Government than supported the two Labour parties combined; and this, he holds, proves that public feeling is at least as strongly in favour of Nationalism to-day as it was three years ago, when be was raised to office by a tremendous popular revulsion against Laiigism. Labour's Explanations. Of course the Langites find great difficulty in attempting to explain their overwhelming defeat, and Mr. own suggestion that it must be attributed chiefly to the votes of tho unemployed, who were intimidated and stampeded by Mr. Stevens, does not seem to have helped matters much. But it is evident that the many reverses that Langism lias now sustained have had the natural effect of shaking the faith of tho LangitcrJ in their leader; and in spite of the furious resentment displayed by the "Labour Daily" at the suggestion of the "S.M. Herald," that the time has come for Labour to break free from the Lang incubus, there are many signs that tho course of events is bending in this direction. It is generally believed that Lang's chief ambition is to transfer from the field of State politics to the Federal arena, and no doubt if tho Langites had scored a victory at the recent poll he would have decided to try his fortunes at Canberra. But since the election there has been a definite movement to push Mr. Forgan Smith to tho front as a new leader for a united Labour party. The Queensland Premier has just won a decisive victory at the polls in his own State, and his ability, his moderation and the general esteem in which ho is held would make him tho natural successor to Mr. Scullin. But this would mean tho eclipse of Lang's political prospects, and therefore tho "Labour Daily'' and the other means of publicity at Lang's command are just now making a great feature of votes of confidence in Lang and declarations of loyalty to "the greatest ' leader tho Labour party has ever had"—as set forth in tho columns of Lang's own newspaper. But the general impression here certainly is that, as Mr. Stevens put it in Melbourne this week, "Lang is a spent force," and that though Labour in New South Wales will ultimately recover its lost strength, it will need to change its leader to do so. Premier's Election Programme. A good deal of interest naturally attaches to the forthcoming Parliamentary season which opens on Juno 11. It was expected that the first session of tho new Parliament would be a short one; but those who hoped for this must have been grievously disappointed during the past week. For it now appears that the Premier means to lose no time in putting his election programme into legislative form. After several measures that were left incomplete at the dissolution—the Companies Bill, tho Child Welfare Bill, tho Fisheries Bill—havo been disposed of, Parliament will be called upon to consider a whole series of bills embodying the principal pledges given by the Nationalist leaders during the campaign. Then the Budget proposals, it is predicted, will prove particularly comprehensive and interesting this year; and altogether it seems likely that the coming session will last for several months. Of course, with his large majority, Mr. Stevens can look to the future without much anxiety. But it should be remembered that a party which is overwhelmingly strong is always liable to be affected by internal dissension and to collapse of its own weight. There are no indications of any such fate for the Nationalists at present. But there are said to be certain signs of discord in the Cabinet ranks owing chiefly to a projected reshuffle of the portfolios. Mr. Dunningham (Minister of Labour) has gone Home for a trip, and his place has been taken temporarily—or, it is whispered, permanently—by Mr. Hawkins, a personal friend and devoted follower of Mr. Stevens. It is also rumoured, that Mr. Ryan (Assistant Minister), who is over 70 years old. is finding his duties wearisome, that Mr. Main (Minister of Agriculture) is "tired of the job," and that Mr. Buttenshaw (Minister of Lands), a capable and popular Country member, will surrender his portfolio. In each case, it is believed, some loyal follower of Mr. Stevens will fill the vacancy, and those members of the Cabinet and the party who rather resent the Premier's autocratic methods are by no means pleased with the prospect Position of Speaker. One of the most ominous rumours of the hour is the report that Mr. Stevens may decide that the House needs a new Speaker. Sir Daniel Levy has conducted the business of the House with duo efficiency and dignity, and there would certainly be an outcry from all aides if he were* now superseded. It is true that | before the polls the Premier received | from the Nationalists full authority to reconstruct his Cabinet as circumstances ' might dictate; but it is a power that he will be well advised to use sparingly and discreetly. '