LABOUR IN POWER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1925, Page 4

LABOUR IN POWER

IN NEW SOUTH WALES

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME AM)

CAUCUS DECISIONS,

(FROM OUR OVX CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 13th August. The New South Wales Labour Government settled down to serious busi-' ness with the opening, of Parliament last Wednesday, and on the previous day tho party met to consider the proposed legislative programme for the session. The meeting, of course, was held in .caucus, but as is usual with such pre-ses-sional conferences, the decisions arrived at were fully detailed by the Press next morning. There were, too, some interesting^ decisions' among them. One was that Parliament should sit only between the hours of 10 a.m. 'and 6. p.m., thus ■breaking the time-honoured night, and, if necessary, all-night, sittings of British Parliaments.. The decision marks the recognition of politics as a definite profession, and now Sir. M.L.A. will be able to cultivate his home life to an extent not permissible in the days when members wrangled into the early hours of the morning. On tho practical side, Labour members say the innovation will save the State taxi-cab fares and other expenditure incurred' by the late sittings;

THE VOTING TANGLE.

An interesting decision, fotecasted by the tangle and delay at learning the results of the last election, was the adopted proposal to abolish the proportional representation system and substitute the single seat system, with, "first-past-the-post" voting. A few country members of the party opposed the change, but the majority favoured the proposal. The announced intention of Mr. Lang to keep aloof from the Federal Loan Council, 1 which was formed to ensure the co-operation of all the States in approaching the London market for loan moneys,.and make his own arrangements for raising funds was endorsed by caucus. Mr. Lane told his followers that the British , money-lenders had every confidence in the integrity and .honesty of tho Labour Government, and the Government was now in the happy position of being guaranteed £10,000.----000 a year, or more if it required it, for three years. ;

A "FAST AND FUBIOUS" SESSION.

A measure to establish complete adult suffrage for municipal elections was approved by the party, and this, it is intended, will be passed during the present session in order that it might operate at the next City Council elections. If necessary the municipal elections, due for next December, will be postponed until after the Bill .has become law. '

Practically the whole of Ms, Lang's policy speech before the elections was included in the Governor's Speech, and the Premier hopes to put the whole of this programme on the Statute Book before the end of the session. If so, the session will be fast and furious, for, as an Opposition member said, Mr. Lang promised the sky, as well as the earth, to electors in the city and country alike. First and foremost is the 44-Hour Week 'Bill, and next a Bill to provide pensions for widows. Industrial and land matters will be legislated for. The great shadow that is threatening peace in the Government is the agitation started by the Bailway Union for back pay, amounting to £8 lQs per head, arising out of the Board of Trade's declaration of the cost-of-living. figures in 1919. A matter of £65,000 -ie involved for railway employees, but what Mr. Lang fears is an agitation by all Government servants for this back pay. In that case, £2,000,000 would be necessary to satisfy the claims, and Hub Mr. Lanncannot find. The proposal, therefore^ has been shelved, but it is a potential source of trouble for the Premier.