WEEK-END NEGOTIATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 22 November 1926, Page 10

WEEK-END NEGOTIATIONS

WITHOUT AVAIL,

(Received 22nd Noveml er^ 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Strenuous efforts were made during the week-end to effect a settlement with, Messrs. Loughlin, Goodin, .and Gillies, but they remained obdurate, and »U 'efforts were fruitless. It is rumoured that a section of tho Labour Party, with a view to settlement, suggested that Mr. Lang should stand down, but Mr. Lang's supporters made it clear that they wanted him to face the situation "and to place on the maleontenta the responsibility of throwing the Government out of office. The Labour caucus held a lengthy,; meeting in camera, and it was afterwards officially announced that the situation was fully discussed. It was decided to await developments in the House to-day. At the Australian Labour Party '»< executive meeting, Mr. T. D. Mutch, Minister' of Labour, disagreed with Mr. Lang's view that if an election was held immediately, the Labour Party; would obtain 47 seats, though owing to the position which had arisen over the dictatorship, they might not get more than 30 seats. Mr. Mutch continued that he was vigorously opposed to the position created by a resolu* tion of the conference making the Premier a dictator. He would not consider, however, any proposal ,to vote against the party. He added that the appointment of a dictator had done the party much harm, and the dictatorship meant that Ministers were like a lot of school children who had to carry out the orders of the dictator. Another executive meeting will be held to-night to consider, to-day'» events. The committee appointed to meet Messrs. Goodin and Gillies endeavourd to discuss the situation with them, btrt both refused to do anything except in the presence of Mr. Loughlin. The committee also visited Mr, Loughlin and discussed the matter at length. It is understood that he declined to reconsider his decision, and said that unless Mr. Lang resigned the leadership of the party nothing could be done.