LANG'S CRITICS

Grey River Argus, 1 May 1931, Page 5

LANG'S CRITICS

ON ALL SIDES His Firm Also Attacked (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY, April 30. Supply for the month of May amounting to £2,648,800 was sough* by the Government fn the New South Wales Assembly. It was intimated that the Budget fori the year was expected to bo ready shortly. Premier Lang expressed the opinion that New South Wales would soon be experiencing a prosperous period. He reiterated his intention of seeking a reduction in interest rntes. Replying to a question in the Assembly . Mr Lang said that he hoped soon to introduce :un amendment, whereby the income tax would be paysloe as earned, thus the burden would not be* allowed to accumulate over a period of twelve months, causing hardship as is often the case now. There was consternation in the Assembly, when Mr Kelly, the 1 Labour memben for Bathurst, criticised his Government for its withdrawal from the Loan Counc’l. He declared: say to my party. I would not have any hesitation about joining tbie Loan Councfl at the earliest moment. I don’t see any sound reason for keeping out.” Mr Kelly continued that the time had arrived fori plain sy caking. If I the present rate of Government .expenditure continued there must be a smash. Serious consideration must be given to the heavy burden it imposed, lie suggested an inquiry into the 1 payment of high salaries to public offici\ als, many of whom, he asserted, were not earning their pay. Mr Stevens, declaring that Mr Lang should tell the people whether he propose! to continue his policy ,of 1 repudiation said the apparent saving by default iu interest and other payments to the end of the financial year, would bo £4,322,100.

Quoting from the official depositions, taken at a fire inquest in the Premier’s electorate. Mr Foster, a- Nationalist member of the Assembly, claimed that the firm of Lang and Dawes, estate agents, in which the | Premier is a partner, had charged a woman, who purchased a property, thirteen per cent, interest on mortgage. Mr Foster said that Mn Lang was ever ready to accuse* other people of usury, himself posing ag a Simon Pure, and always describing landlords and moneylenders as ogres battening on the working people, yet the Premiert himself, in the capacity of mortgagee, was one of the greatest usurers. “If the Premier doe s not 1 face the House and attempt to disprove my statement-, I shall ask my lawyers to investigate the allegation,’* added Mt Foster.

The “Telegraph’s” MelbvM»*c correspondent says: “Lord Somers, Governor of Victoria, surprised his audience at the Gippsland conference, by , departing from "traditional Vice-Regal > reserve, and offering comment on poli- ; tie tq and finance. Though he did not actually name the Premier of Now ’ South Wales, his criticism could be . directed to no other politician.

His Excellency said: —“There is money waiting for an outlet, but who is going to lend money to a man who says, *1 don’t think I will be able to pay you back. ’ There is one man who has said this.”

Rigid rules for enforcing allegiance tc Premier Lang and the State Australian Labour Party Executive, have been drafted for circulation among members of the Legislative Assembly, the Council and Municipal bodies. Special pledges are prepared, demanding unswerving loyalty to the Lang

plan and the Lang legislation. Gener ally, members will be directed to sign these pledges and return theta to the A.L.P. Office. If they refuse to do so they will not be regarded as Labour supporters aJid their endorsements will be withdrawn. It is considered likely that those who are suppo'rfing the Federal Labour Party, will refuse to rign the pledge, v l£l

FEDERAL FINANCE. BANK AND BOND QUESTION. MELBOURNE, April 29. Speaking at Ballarat, the Federal Treasurer, Mr Theodore, held out no hope of Australia meeting her over seas obligations except by increase in commodity prices or extension of longterm credits abroad. “We cannot carry on without these conditions. There has been coolness overseas towards Australia for a long time There is no reason why our 5 pet cent. loan. l s at £7O, while New Zealand ’s is at £7B, and South Africa at £lOO. This must be due to a series of misunderstandings. The blame can not be all with one parity-. We must cease ranoorou 9 fightfng, aud try te .brush those misunderstandings away.’' [CANBERRA, April 30. The dispute between Mr Scullin, land his former lieutenant, Mr Beasi ley, now leader of the Lang group, occurred in the House of Representatives, and th eric were charges of lying. Mr Scullin, i n the course of a statement, said that Sir Robert Gibson’s re-appointment to th? Commonwealth Bank Board was by the unanimous consent of the Cabinet. Mr lAnstey (ex-Minister), declared that he ’■objected to the re-appointment and put a protest in writing so that triers could be no mistake.

Mr Beasley said that be was wrongly represented by thp Prime Minister. The re appointment was not unanlimous and he had not supported it.

Mr Beasley asked Mr Scullin whether in view of the statements of Mr Beasley and Mr Anstey, he had any explanation to make.

Mr Scullin replied:—J emphatically deny both statements. Amid upiioar, Mr Beasley called out: “And I deny that.’’

Later, when Mr Scullin repeated that the declaration was unanimous, Mr Beasley cried: “You are hung.”

Mr Sculpin said: .“I leave it to members to decide who has told tb" truth.” ..