SCENE IN ASSEMBLY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1931, Page 9

SCENE IN ASSEMBLY

CENSURE ON OPPOSITION

INJURING CREDIT OF STA.TE-

SYDNEY, 20th. January. There was an unprecedented and dramatic move by the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, at the Legislative Assembly re-opeiiing this afternoon, , when he moved a motion of censure on the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. E. Bavin, and the former Treasurer, Mr. B. S. B. Stevens, declaring that they had mad© unwarrantable, untruthful, and disloyal statements calculated to injure the credit of the State. Mr. Lang's attack. was based on statements made at the last election campaign. He alleged that Messrs. Bavin and Stevens, and certain Nationalist candidates, with Mr. Bavin's approval, led electors to believe that if Labour was returned the people's savings would be filched by the Labour Ministry from the Government Savings Bank. Mr. Lang pointed out that as a result of these suggestions and rumours of a similar character there had been substantial withdrawals by depositors, and the Commissioners of the bank had written to him expressing deep concern in regard to ultimate possibilities. Mr. Bavin interjected: "I presume you will follow this up with a motion for our expulsion. Anyhow I invite it." ■, ,' . \ LUNATIC PROPOSAL. Opposition members shouted derisively to Mr. Lang: "Who are you? Off with their heads!" . • ■ Mr. Bavin, in replying to Mr. Lang's motion, described it as the product of a lunatic asylum, and although it was such that there was not the slightest doubt that Mr. Lang's party would carry it, Mr. Bavin wondered whether Mr. Lang was "quite safe to, govern this beautiful country." An intorjeetor asked: "What do you mean?" Mr. Bavin replied: "I mean he is not quite safe to be at the head of the affairs of this State. Only. yesterday one newspaper had to brand him as a liar as a result of his denial that he had not sought financial aid from the Loan Council. It is quite obvious that the Premier now desires to cover up his tracks by asking* Parliament to1 carry this motion which would make it the laughing stock of Australia." Mr. Bavin challenged Mr. Lang or any member of his party to find one word in. Mr. Bavin's election speeches which was calculated to cause alarm among the depositors of the Savings Bank. Mr. Stevens deplored that time should be wasted over such a childish motion. He' said that .during the election, speeches were made by certain Labour supporters which did infinitely more harm to the credit of Australia than anything said about the Government Savings Bank. The motion was carried on a strictly party division. COUNTER-PROPOSAL. Mr. Bavin afterwards sought the suspension of standing orders to move a motion censuring the Premier for having denied on 19th December that he had applied to the Loan Council for financial assistance. 'Mr. Bavin ; explained that the Press had published correspondence revealing that Mr. Lang's "statement was The Assembly should therefore record its condemnation of his action in misleading the House..' The motion for the suspension of standing orders was defeated on a party division, and the motion of censure , lapsed.