LANG’S ‘BOMBSHELL’

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11494, 23 November 1931, Page 5

LANG’S ‘BOMBSHELL’

LWENTY-FivE NEW- ' LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS

REVIVAL OF CONTROVERSIAL BILLS EXPECTED 7 : -I • ' • *■ y• ' POSSIBLY 25 PER. CENT. WAGE '(_ 7 CUT “|' , ' ( U.P.A. by Elec. Tql. Copurr'eht,) SYDNEY, Nov. 21. The swearing-in of the 25 new Council appointees probably will take place on Tuesday. The tiro women included are . tho first to bo appointed to tho Upper ' House. ; . . , 7 Thg‘Telegraph says that though apparently sudden, . the Government’s decision is believed to ..dato back to last December, when tho Premier asked for 80 appointments. Sir Philip Gamo then offered 25, and it was not until' yesterday that his offer was accepted. With its stronger hand; tho, Government is now expected to revive immediately its mechanical hare racing legislation, tho Arbitration Bill in its original form, tho Insurance Companies’ Deposit Bill, and passibly. tho 5s in the pound wage tax.

Air Bavin said lie was at a lo'ss to understand why the appointments wero made. Any measures which had behn defeated in the Upper House had been defeated by Mr Lang’s own party. There could be no possible justification for the appointment of so large, a number.

Mr Boyce, Leader of the Opposition in the Council, said: “I am astounded at the number of appointments. To my mind the Council is the bulwark of the people’s freedom. Wihat it has done t-o be treated in this manner passes my comprehension.” LONDON "OPINION GOVERNOR, CONSENTED ON OWN RESPONSIBILITY (U.P.A. b.y Elec. Tel. Cojoyrigiit.) LONDON, Nov. 20. The Sun-Herald says there is little doubt that Sir Philip Game’s consent to the appointments is entirely on his own .responsibility, and also that Mr Walls’ consultations at Whitehall were confined almost solely to informing the authorities of Mr Lang’s attitude. There was no reason to think that _ Sir Philip Game., .sought advice here, or that the. British Government departed from its , scrupulously impartial policy by which Governors, as His Majesty’s direct, representatives, act on their own initiative. NEW GUARD’S PROTEST (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright.) (Received Nov. 22, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 22. ‘"The New Guard views with alarm the appointment to the Legislative Council of persons who, by their own utterances, are proved to he disloyal to the King, Empire and the Commonwealth”, says Captain Sutherland, “military secretary” of the New Guard, which, he declared, is fortified in its determination to join in unceasing battle with the disloyalists. Only two courses were open to tho community (1) servile submission to the dictation of a “junta’’ of union secretaries or (2) refusal to submit. In this crisis, the New Guard expects loyal citizens t-o rally to tho colors, as they did seventeen years ago. The appointments may shortly serve to demonstrate to tho Government whether its mana is waning in force, as some Ministers have declared. SHARES SLUMP BUT RECOVER (U.P.A. bv Elec. Tel. Copyright.) (Received Nov. 22, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 21. Tho Stock Exchange this morning displayed some hesitancy as a result of tho political surprise. Trices were lower at the opening, but mostly recovered later. Bank of New South Wales shares, after changing hands at THO 10sfirmed to £3O 15s.