NO UNITY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 26, 31 July 1933, Page 7

NO UNITY

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

THE FIGHT GOES ON

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, July 6.

All hope of unity among the warring factions of the Labour Party in Australia has vanished for tho time being ■at least, and the fight threatens to become more bitter than ever. The Unity proposals of the Federal A.L.P. were directed- inaiirly at the State Labour 3'arty in New South Wales which, under the leadership of Mr. Lang, has elected to remain aloof from the. main body., An oJive branch was offered to tho Lang Party by tho All-Australian Conference, but was refused. Briefly it,was aii intimation that the Federal Conference would lift the expulsion of the Lang Party if the party recognised the Federal body as supreme. Without consulting the party tho Inner Executive in Sydney rejected the terms, and that action did not cause any surprise. Those who know Mr. Lang know of his ambitions for Federal leadership. He will not be content with less, so it is unlikely that be would link up with a body led by Mr. Scullin.

Tho position now is that tho same number of factions exist in New South Wales as was the case beforo the unity conference. These are the Federal A.L.P., the Lang Labour Party (in control), the Socialisation unjts, and the miners. Even while unity negotiations were going on the Lang Party leaders continued to expel members, the latest victims being Messrs. J. Sweeny, president of the University Labour Club, and H. Melrose, president of the Barton Electoral Council, who assisted Mr. Willis in the Bulli by-election against the official Lang Party candidate. The Federal Labour Party will continue to function in New South Wales even though it has lost most of its followers, and tho Lang Party -will carry the fight to other States.

In going further afield tho Lang Party will have to fight hard for success, for Mr. Lang is not popular outside1 Now South Wales, and in that State his popularity is confined to the true-blue Labourites only—those who ■would make him dictator and follow him bjindly, even though he chose the ■{oad to destruction. It is clear, that Mr. Lang can expect little success in Queensland, where the Labour Premier (Mr. Forgan Smith) is well entrenched. Mr. Forgan Smith is even spoken of as tho next Labour leader in the Federal sphere. There are some who thought that if he displaced Mr. Sculliu Labour unity might bo assured, but it is not Kkely that Mr. Lang would agree to follow anyone but himself. Tho Lang Party will most likely concentrate on Victoria and South Australia, where it has already succeeded in dividing tho Labour forces —to what benefit is not $lpar. it is slill the intention that Mr.

Lang should enter Federal politics at the next election. There will' be no difficulty in finding him a safo Sydney seat. It is hoped that, with the following ho will secure in Victoria and South Australia, Mr. Lang will have more followers in the House of Representatives than Mr. Scullin, or whoever may then be the leader of tho Federal Labour Party. As yet Tasmania and Western Australia have received little from the Lang'Party, and there may be very good reason for that. Each State has shown a dislike for extremism, and extremism and Lang go hand in hand.

The most interesting figure in the faction fight in New South Wales is Mr. A. C. Willis, who unsuccessfully opposed the "machine" in the Bulli election. He is .endeavouring to regain for the miners the control of tho official organ of tho Lang Labour Party, the "Labour Daily." What his plans are have not been announced, but he has expressed confidence of ultimate success. If success should eouia his way it would be the greatest blow the Lang Party has received, and a blow, also, to Mr. Lang personally, for ho has a considerable sum invested iv the concern and is able to dictate its policy. Meanwhile tho Socialisation forces intend to carry on the fight to secure the control in place of the Inner Group, and will press for tho catling of a special conference.

Mr. Lang deserves a special voto of thanks from the people of Australia. Ho is doing more than anyone else to keep Labour out of power.