PREMIER AS USURER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 9

PREMIER AS USURER

Lang’s Interest Rates > AN IRONICAL CHARGE New South Wales Labour DISAGREEMENT IN PARTY By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright , Sydney, April SO. Quoting from an official deposition taken' at an inquest on a fire in the Premier’s electorate, Mr. W. F. Foster, a Nationalist member of the Legislative Assembly, claimed that the firm of Lang and Dawes, estate agents, of which the Premier was a’ partner, had charged a woman who had purchased a property 13 per cent, interest on a mortgage. Mr. Foster said that Mr. J. T. Lang Was ever ready to accuse other people of usury, himself posing as a Simon pure, and always describing landlords and money-lenders as ogres fattening on the working people, yet the Premier himself in the capacity of mortgagee was one of the greatest usurers. “If the Premier does not face the House,” he said, "In an attempt to disprove the statement, I shall ask my lawyers to investigate the allegation.” Lang Still Optimistic. Supply for the month /of May, amounting to £2,648,800, was sought by the Government.

Intimating that the Budget for the year was expected to be ready shortly, the Premier expressed the opinion that New South Wales would soon be experiencing a prosperous period. Mr. J. T. Lang reiterated his intention of seeking a reduction in Interest rates. There was consternation in the Assembly when Mr. Kelly, Labour member for Bathurst, criticised h’s Government for its withdrawal from the Loan Council- . “I say to my party,” he declared, “that I would not have any hesitation about Joining the Loan Council at the earliest moment. Ido not see any sound reason for keeping out. ’ Mr. Kelly continued to say that the time had arrived for plain speaking. If the present rate of Government expenditure continued, there must be a smash. Serious consideration must be given to the heavy burden it imposed. He suggested an inquiry into the payment of high salaries to public officials, many of whom, he asserted, were not earning their pay. Mr. Bertram Stevens, declaring that Mr. Lang should tell the people whether he proposed to continue his policy of/ repudiation, said that the apparent saving by default in interest and other payments to the end of the financial year would be £4,322,100. “Rules For Allegiance.” Rigid rules for' enforcing allegiance to the Premier and the State Australian Labour Party Executive have been drafted for circulation among members of the Legislative Assembly Council and municipal bodies. Special pledges have been prepared demanding unswerving loyalty to the Lang plan and Lang legislation generally. Members will be directed to sign these pledges and return them to the Australian Laboiir Party office. If they refuse to do so, they will not be regarded as Labour supporters arid their endorsements will be withdrawn. It Is considered likely that those who are supporting the Federal Labour 1 arty will refuse to sign the pledge. Replying to a question in the ' Legislative Assembly, Mr. Lang said that he hoped soon to introduce an amendment whereby income tax would be payable as earned. Thus the burden . would not be allowed to accumulate over a period of twelve months, causing hardship, as was often the case now. LANG AS BORROWER Governor’s Pointed Reference Sydney, April 30. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Melbourne correspondent says that Lord Somers, the Governor of Victoria, surprised his audience at the Gippsland Shires Conference by departing from the traditional Vice-Regal reserve and offering a comment on politics and finance. Though he did not actually name the Premier of New South Wales his criticism could be directed at no other politician. His Excellency said: “There is money waiting for outlet, but who is going to lend money to a man who says: ‘I don’t think I shall be able to pay you back.’ There is one man who has said this.”