THE LANG FLAM

Evening Star, Issue 20986, 28 December 1931, Page 1

THE LANG FLAM

MR THEODORE SARCASTIC FRUIT 9F MEGALOMANIA The Federal Treasurer, Mr Theodore, was given an uninterrupted hearing in Elkington Park, Balmain, yesterday afternoon, says the Sydney ‘ Morning Herald ’ of December 14. It was the first occasion that organised hecklers wero absent, and the large audience listened in silence even when the Federal Treasurer made a violent attack on the Premier, Mr Lang, and his plan. “Mr Lang,’’ said Mr Theodore, is a megalomaniac like the Kaiser was during the war. Ho has made himself believe that he is tho Moses specially selected by Providence to lead Australia out of bondage. He is unable to work in harmony with anybody. His name will be forgotten in two years’ time. His plan is supposed to he a panacea for all ills. It is not inspiring; it is humbug. His plan was prepared by Mr John Sleeman. Mr Lang made history by reading his speech embodying the plan at the Premiers’ Conference. It was the first occasion a Premier had ever read his speech at the conference. The best evidence that Mr Lang was not' the author of the plan was that lie could not pronounce many of tho words. The Lang plan is naked repudiation. Mr Lang is reckless and irresponsible. He accepts his advice from Messrs Garden and Graves; he truckles to the Trades Hall group. Mr Lang is only a doormat for Mr Garden and his -heelers at tho Trades Hall. They are tho shadow Government of New South Wales, We will never be a united body until wo clear onr ranks of men of tho Garden type. _ A small group of potty tyrants and intriguers have wormed their way into control of tho Trades Hall. He is hailed as the greatest Labour leader we ever had, and as a strong man with an iron heel, yet he has to come cap in hand to the Loan Council for £150,000 to pay the salaries of his * public servants and policemen.” Mr Theodore said that the private banks, although pretending not to take any part in politics, were secretly behind the United Australia Party, and were planning for an all-round reduction in wages if successful at the poll. He said that during the first twelve months of office the Federal Government had to pay £71,000,000 for maturing loans. The Government had rectified a £20,000,000 shortage in revenue. Mr Theodore alleged that tho LyonsLatham party was planning to abolish arbitration and throw three-quarters of a million workers to tho wolves. Unless arbitration was protected by the return of the Labour Party wages would go overboard, conditions would be adversely affected, and tho workers would be left to the tender mercy of their employers, whether unscrupulous or otherwise.