TWO PARTIES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 9

TWO PARTIES

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

(From "the Post's" Representative.) / : SYDNEY, July 14. It is now certain that' the Federal .Labour Party and the Lang Labour Party will fight the Federal Elections in New South Wales as separate- organisations. The Lang Party was a lastminute effort to bring about Labour unity on: i,ts own terms, but left the negotiations so late that the Victorian branch of the Federal Party, which-has been inclined to ' extend the olive branch to Lang followers, would have nothing to do with them; As matters have turned out the Lang Party will not be a power in any, .of the other States, for the Labour organisations outside New South Wales.have seen fit to go oh their own way. ':.• The most remarkable change has taken place in South Australia, where followers of Mr. Lang did their best to-disrupt the Labour lnovcirierit ami almost:succeeded. Not long ago there, were four 'dijgijnct Labour factions in South Australia, and now all have been united under the Federal banner. This must" be "regarded. as a distinct setback to Mr. Lang: There were" two Lang groups, the Parliamentary Labour Party and the official Australian Labour Party. During the negotiations that, followed the fortunes of each ' faction fluctuated in a remarkable way, and then came the Government's decision for a General Election. The harmony now is so complete that Senator Daly, tyhb was excluded from the Senate' selection ballot because he remained loyal to the Premiers' Plan, has now been accepted as a candidate. 'It is of interest to note that the .Lang.Party' has at last accopted the Victorian terms for complete Labour unity in all States, and after the Federal Elections an Australian conferencewill be called for the purposo of considering the whole position afresh. At the election Mr. Scullin will continue to lead tho Australian Labour Party, which will provide candidates who will.give Lang men a solid fight in New South Wales . constituencies. Thisjrill be playing into the hands of the Government Party, for it was in New South Wales that Labour was likely to make the greatest gains. It remains to be seen whether the rival1 factions will agree to an exchange of preferences, but with feeling' running high as it does, at present this is unlikely.

The Lang Payty claims that the Federal Government's decision to go to the country in September was due to "the abnormal swing against the Lyons Government revealed by the preliminary campaign in the Martin electorate in Bydney." Arrangements had been made "to hold a by-election in Martin following on the death of Mr. A. W. Holman. As a matter of fact the" Lang campaign in Martin had been most discouraging, and on two successive night's meetings that had been arranged were cancelled because there was no audience. Martin is still regarded as one of tho doubtful seats, Jrafc^ Labour will have to fight hard if it 5s to reverse the result of nearly three years ago.