N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 13

N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

LABOUE APPOINTMENTS

GOVERNOR AGREEABLE

SENSATION IN SYDNEY

United Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright. (Received 21st November, S a.m.) SYDNEY, 20th November.

A. stir was caused in political circles to-night by the anouiiccincuL that llic Governor, Sir Philip Game, had agreed to Mr. J. T. Lang's further representations for the appointment of 25 additional Labour nominees to the Legislative Council.

It is felt in newspaper circles tonight that when the now appointments are published in the morning a lirstclass sensation will. result, as tho whole affair was most dramatic and unexpected and is bound to east a gloom over business, just at the very moment when it was experiencing a revival.

The appointments will enable Mr. Lang to swamp the Legislative Council. His majority there will bo probably five or eight, including a small section which is not wedded to the Lang financial plan, led by Mr. Coatcs. It is expected that Mr. Lang will bo able to rely on 58 to support, the general measures sponsored by Labour, while the Opposition is approximately 51. However, it is not easy to gauge the strength of parties in the Upper House, as certain members please themselves how they vote. There- have been occasions when avowed Labourites crossed the floor when extremist legislation was under consideration. The general belief is that Mr. Lang has captured the Upper House on this occasion, and an early attempt will be made to vote itself out of existence. Thus there will be no need to await the decision of the Privy Council in April. There is considerable speculation tonight as to tho reason why the Governor reversed his former decision and agreed to new members, whose appointment was confirmed at a special meeting of tho Executive Council this afternoon. They include mostly officials of such militant trade unions as boilermakers, brickmakers, miners, stovemakers, united labourers, enginedrivers, and wharf labourers. There are two women appointees, and Messrs. J. J. Graves, general secretary of tho State Labour Party, and Mr. Donald Grant, formerly in the public eye iv connection with I.W.W. prosecutions and now a city Alderman.