STATE GOVERNMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19196, 12 March 1926, Page 5

STATE GOVERNMENT

THE COUNCIL CONTROVERSY MR LANG’S COMMENTS Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, March 12. (Received March 12, at D. 5 a.m.) The Premier (Mr Lang) staled that lie was amused at the Press campaign against the Labor Government and the talk about Downing Street. He said the Council Abolition Hill was brought, in as an answer to a direct challenge from the Nationalist Opposition. Air Lang added that ho refused the right of anyone to order a General Election. So long as the Government commanded a majority in the Assembly it not only had the right, but the duty, to rule. The Labor" Party was never more united on the question of the abolition of the Upper House. Air Lang then commented on the discussion for the recall of the Governor, iio said it appeared to him that ii he appealed to the Dominions Office ho was sacrificing the sell'governing rigid s of the people, but when the Nationalists memorialised Downing Street to reject the Labor Government s legislation the}’ wero quite within their rights. When the Nationalist Premier demanded and secured the recall ol the State Governor he was something _ ol a hero, but the mere suggestion that the Labor Government might be compelled to act in a similar manner filled the Nationalists with horror, lie concluded by saying that all the talk about Downing Street was _ moonshine, as every woll-inlormod citizen knew that Hie Stale Governor was a servant of the State, and was provided with a handsome salary and palatial residence at the expense of the State.

“ The only opposition to our policy comes from nnr tradii iomi I enemies, and 1 would he unworthy ol my trust and a contoniptililc coward into the bargain if ( wore to lie down and submit to their dictation. Listho rankest humbug to refer to the nominee house as a chamber of revision, when a review of the- division lists show convincingly that the Council is just as much a party house as the Assembly, and so long as it remains in existence, the Government of the day must have a majority there or submit; lo nominee rule. At present the Nationalists have a majority in the Council, and that majority has deliberately planned lo thwart tlie. Government, not only on the Abolition Bill, but on all vital Labor legislation. If the Opposition thinks the Government is going to ho in (Inclined by the torrent of abuse now being levelled at me, they are making the mistake of their lives.'’ (Received March 12, at 11 a.m.'l

According to statements hi political circles the Governor lias already given Mr Lang to understand that he can obtain, a dissolution of Parliament if he desires to seek a mandate from the people on the question of the Pppcr House. , . The concensus of opinion in political Labor circles is that it r is the Premier’s desire to see Sir Timothy Coghlan (at present Agent-General) in the position now occupied by Sir Dudley Do Chair.