LANG PLAN ROUT

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 9, 12 January 1932, Page 9

LANG PLAN ROUT

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 7th January. By crushingly defeating Lang Labour candidates at, the municipal elections in and around Sydney on Saturday last the electors have shown in no uncertain manner, first, that they do not .want the Lang Plan of repudiation and Government control of banking and money, and, secondly, that they do not want polities associated with civic affairs. In the old councils Labour held 109 seats; now it holds but 64, and has lost control of all but two councils. It is of importance to note that practically the whole of the official Labour candidates were nominees of tho Lang faction, so they cannot claim on this occasion, as/they did on the occasion of the federal elections, that the Labour vote was divided. What is more, the Labour Party made special efforts to seeuro control of municipal affairs, realising that such a victory was necessary in-the interests of Mr. Lang and all he stands for. It is significant that the man who defeated Mr. E. G. Theodore for his seat iri the House of Representatives, was rejected in the same locality as an alderman. That in itself is evidence of the bitterness that was aroused over tho Federal elections—the bitterness between one Labour faction and another. Many of those Labour aldermen who haye been defeated had held seats for years, and it was anticipated that they were there for life. Year after year they have boasted huge majorities, but those majorities this year were converted into minorities just as remarkable. . GKBATBR SYDNEY. These must be anxious days indeed for Mr. Lang, and it is not surprising that he and his followers should fear as much as they do an appeal to tho people. It remains to be seen now whether Mr. Lang will be ablo to go ahead with his Greater Sydney idea. Under this legislation, which the Upper House lias yot to pass, the actual city area will absorb many of the surrounding municipalities—and municipalities that, in ordinary circumstances, could be depended upon to return Labour men. It is not likely, now that .Mr. Lang will be so keen on a Greater Sydney, :f or on last Saturday's voting.Labour would not gain control of the council and the Harbour Board. •■•!■

During the past three years the State Labour Party has had control of ten of the councils adjacent to Sydney, so its wings have been severely clipped. Only two of the industrial areas—Glebe and Paddington—returned a . full Labour Council, and it was surprising that so many other industrial localities refused to elect even one Labour alderman. In "Waterloo, for instance, there were eleven aldermen in the last council. Now there are none. At Eedfern, where Labour has held sway for years, there- will be six Labour aldermen and six who are branded non-political. It is inevitable that the name of Eedfer'n's Mayor will be drawn from the hat. The overwhelming defeat of the Lang Plan candidates at Bexley is reflected in a comparison with the votes polled by Labour in the same municipality three years ago when Labour contested all nine scats. The votes for Labour men have dwindled from 1300 to 650, and tho Lang Plan candidate who received most Labour votes last Saturday was. 24th on tho list of candidates. And that after a special campaign!

It is only a month since Labour was crushingly defeated at tho municipal elections in the country towns and shires. The city elections should have been held at the same time, and it is difficult to see why they were postponed unless it was because Mr. Lang roresaw what the results would be He would have postponed the elections still further if there had not been a Legislative check for such action.