N.S.W. OPPOSITION

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 April 1932, Page 12

N.S.W. OPPOSITION

THE NEW LEADER. "SYDNEY, April 7. Mr. B. S. Stevens, who has been selected as file new Leader of the Parliamentary branch of the United Australia Party in-New South Wales, and bids fair to become the next Premier of that troubled State, has had a meteoric political career, for he was first elected to the State House only five years ago. He can also be described as one of the arch-enemies of the present Labour Premier (Mr. Lang),, the enmity dating back to the time when Mr. Stevens was Director of State Finance;;, and permanent head of the Treasury. When he occupied those positions under Mr. Bavin, Mr. Stevens carried out some important reorganisations that did not meet with the apporval of Mr. Lang. Mr. Lang made Mr. Stevens a marked man, and when Mr. Lang was returned. to power Mr. Stevens forestalled any action that might have been taken against hijn by resigning. .. VMr. Stevens went into business ; in the city as a public accountant, but it was not long before ho abandoned''this in favour of politics, arid when he first stood for Croydon he was elected by an overwhelming majority. He was made- assistant Treasurer in the .. last Bavin Administration, and later Treasurer. He has a remarkable grip on

the finances of New South Wales, muddled as they are, and all along he has been a thorn in Mr. Lang’s side. He has proved himself a stern fighter in other directions as well, and has. been a particularly severe critic on the present Administration, particularly in its dealings with mechanical hare racing. Mr. Stevens was born in Sydney, and is a man of tireless energy and a keen debater. Since Mr. Bavin, on accqunt,of ill-health, has been unable to..carry out his duties as Leader, most of the work of that office has fallen on Mr. Stevens, and he has done well. It was a foregone conclusion, that he would bo selected but there are many who regret that the Party has taken ' a leaf from the Labour book and relegated to th© rank and file the task of selecting the Cabinet. This amounts to caucus rule, tho evils of which have been well exemplified by the Labour Party. It is hoped that Mr. Stevens will be able to do more than his predecessor in the direction of cementing the non-Labour elements in New South Wales.