MR LANG’S EXIT

Evening Star, Issue 21116, 31 May 1932, Page 15

MR LANG’S EXIT

NOTICE OF DISMISSAL SOME HISTORIC LETTERS FIRMNESS OF GOVERNOR Correspondence which will probably make political history in the British Empire was exchanged between the Governor of New South Wales (Sir Philip Game) and the Premier (Mr J. T. Lang), during the two dramatic days which immediately preceded Mr Lang’s dismissal from office. The full text of the correspondence, made available by the new Premier (Mr Stevens), is as follows ‘‘ Government House, May 12. “ Dear Mr Lang,—l understand a circular was issued by your department to the various Government departments in connection with the disposal of moneys which have been attached by the Commonwealth under the Financial Enforcement Act. “If this is so, I should be glad if you will furnish me with a copy.— (Signed) Philip Game.” “ Premier’s Office, May 12. “ Dear Sir Philip, —I am informed that a Cabinet decision has been circulated as per enclosure.—John T. Lang, Premier.” CIRCULAR. “ Premier’s Department, Sydney, May 10, 1932. “ Subject; Collections and Expenditure—Procedure to bo followed. “ Reference: Treasury circular letter of April 12, 1932. “ 1 am to inform you that this matter was considered by Cabinet yesterday and the following decision was approved—viz.:— “ That as forced labour without payment by the Authority who would use such forced labour, or, in other words, slavery, has been abolished in the British Empire for over 100 years and as the first charge on revenue in every civilised community is the payment of those who collect the revenue for the Government, it is the decision of Cabinet, for the guidance of, and as an instruction to, all servants of the State and of State Statutory Bodies, in order that the essential and social services of the State of New South Wales may he carried on, that the method of collecting revenue and paying same shall be as outlined in the Treasury Circular of April 13—Subject; ‘Collections and Expenditure—Procedure to be followed ’ —and shall continue to be ns directed by Treasury Circular under Government instruction from time to time.—(Signed) C. H. Hay, Undersecretary.” *‘ The Treasury, New South Wales, “ Sydney, April 12, 1932. “Subject: Collections and Expend! ture—Procedure to ho followed. “ Will you please instruct your departmental officers and officers of yqnr snb-denarfmerits, and other collecting officers, including industrial undertakings, to “ (1) Refrain from meeting any Governmental expenditure by the drawing of cheques until further advised. “ (2) Hold all moneys collected coming under their control until forwarded as mentioned hereunder.

“ (3) Under no circumstances to pay receipts into any bank. “ (4) All collections to bo made m cash or, if in any case it is necessary to take a cheque, such cheque must be cashed, if practicable, or, it the cheque or cheques cannot be cashed, such cheques must be ‘ bearer ’ cheques made payable to ‘ cash ’ or to a number, and crossed.

“ Cheques with specific crossings must not bo accepted. “ On no account must a cheque be officially marked either by stamp or otherwise. , “ (5) All cash and cheques collected to bo delivered to the Treasury, either direct or to the departmental head office. Banks must not be used for this purpose, but sale and suitable arrangements should be made for forwarding cash and cheques to the Treasury. For this purpose, it is suggested that it may be possible to use the organisation or the railways. , . , “ For the information of the departments, it might be stated that value envelopes may be obtained from the railway stations, and, where the money is remitted through the railways, such envelopes containing the remittances should be addressed to the head office of the department or to the Treasury; full details of the collections to accompany the remittances. The Transport Commissioners have undertaken to facilitate arrangements through their organisations for the remittance of cash to the Treasury. .... " (6) Immediate action m this connection is necessary.—C. B. Chapman, Under-Secretary.” AUTHORITY FROM HIS MAJESTY. ” Government House, “ May 32, 1932. , —“Dear Mr Lang,—l have received the copy of the circular for which 1 asked you. It appears to me that the terms of this circular direct public servants to commit a direct breach of the law as set out in proclamation No. 43 of 1932, published in the ‘ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette ’ of May o, and the notice issued in accordance with the last paragraph of that proclamation and published in the Coin--monwealth of Australia Gazette or May 6. I. feel it my bounden duty to. remind you at once that you derive your authority from His Majesty, through me, and that I cannot possibly allow the Crown to he placed m the position of breaking the law of the “ I must ask you, therefore, either to furnish me with proof that tlio instructions in the circular are within the law, or, alternatively, to withdraw the circular at once. , . “I do not wish to press you unduly, hut the matter appears to me to be of an urgency which admits of no delay, and I must ask for a definite reply by 11 a.m. to-morrow, May 13. “(Signed)—Philip Game, “ Governor.” A PERSONAL INTERVIEW. “ Premiers’ Denartmeiit, “ May 13. 1932. “ Dear Sir Philip.—l received your letter of the 12th inst., at 6 p.m., and must say that it is hard to understand how you do not wish to press unduly and yet insist on a definite reply by 11 a.m. on the 13th inst. “ The circular of which you do not appear to approve represents the decision of Cabinet, and no doubt was arrived at after consideration of the pri-

mary duties of maintaining tho essential and social services of the State. “ The only reply you can ho given is that the circular cannot possibly bo withdrawn. “(Signed)—John T. Lang, “ Premier.” “ Government House, May 13. “ Dear Mr Lang,—l have just received your letter of to-day’s date. I gather from it that you do not dispute my view that the circular in question ia a breach of tho Federal law. “ You will, I am sure, realise that I cannot allow tho matter to rest whore it is. Before considering what further action I may feel bound to take I should prefer to discuss the whole position with you. I shall bo available at any time to-day convenient to you. “(Signed)—Philip Game, “ Governor.” Note. —His Excellency had an interview with the Premier at 3 p.m. on May 13. “ Government House. “ May 13. “ Dear Mr Lang,—-At our interview this afternoon yon requested me to communicate my views by letter. “ Tho position as I see it is that Ministers arc committing a breach of the law. While you did not admit this, you did not deny it. Your case, as I understand it, is that Ministers are determined to carry on tho essential services of the State. . , . “ Into the aspect of justification it is not, as I conceive it, my province to inquire. My position is that if my Ministers are unable to carry on essential services without breaking the law, my plain duty is to endeavour to obtain Ministers who feel able to do so. “ As I have already pointed out to you in my letter of the 12th inst., it is impossible for me to put the Crown in the position of being a party to illegal action. “If Ministers are not prepared to abide by the law, then I must state without any hesitation that it is their bounden duty, under the law and the practice of the Constitution, to tender their resignations. “ I await an early reply, as I am sure you will agree that the present position cannot be allowed to extend over the week-end. “(Signed)—Philip Game, “ Governor.” FINAL ACTION TAKEN. “ Premiers’ Department, Sydney, May 13, 1932. “Dear Sir Philip,—lf your letter of to-day’s date means that you are requesting the resignation of Ministers, you are hereby informed that your request is refused. . . “As to other matters mentioned m your letter, you are referred to my previous letter of to-day. “ Yours faithfully, “(Signed)—John T. Lang, “ Premier.” “ Government House, “ May 13, 1932. “ Dear Mr Lang,—Your letter informing me that Ministers are not prepared to tender their resignations has just reached me. In view ol this and of your refusal to withdraw the circular, I feel it is my bounden duty to inform you that I cannot retain my present Ministers in office, and that I am seeking other advisers. I must ask you fa* regard this as final. “(Signed)—Philip Game, “ Governor.”