GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 December 1934, Page 4

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

LANG APPEAL DECISION. [PER 1 PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, December 19. A case of importance to the whole Empire, was how Mr. D. Maughan, a leading Sydney barrister, described the recent hearing, before the Privy Council in England, of the appeal by the Labour politician, J. T. Lang, regarding the rejection by the Supreme Court of New South Wales, of his suit in. equity to have the reform of the Upper House in the State Parliament declared ultra vires. Mr. Maughan arrived at Auckland by the Rangitata. He is on his way back to Sydney, after appearing for the Government of New South Wales during the hearing of the appeal. Two years ago, Mr. Maughan appeared for the Upper House before the Privy Council, when Mr. Lang attempted to abolish this Legislative Chamber without a referendum. More recently, Mr Lang had attacked the scheme of the Premier, Mr, B. Stevens, for the reform of the Upper House, but in the Supreme Court action, the judgment was given against him. He thereupon appealed to the Privy Council, his appeal being handled- by Mr. A. C. Piddington, K.C., while Mr. Maughan was briefed for the State Government. After hearing the argument, the Privy Council disallowed the appeal. “The case is responsible for a declaration of the right of a Government to reform its legislative chambers,” Mr. Maughan said. “As such it is of great constitutional importance.”