FIGHT IS ON

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 January 1926, Page 5

FIGHT IS ON

N.S.W. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR LANG’S PLANS.

UPPER HOUSE MUST GO

by cable press association -coi’iaiuiii

SYDNEY, Jan

The State Premier (Mr Lang), in an interview, referring to the Go,einment’s latest defeat in the Legislative Council, said: ‘T will win in the end. L do not intend to take any notice of the defeat at this juncture. I have determined that the Legislative Council shall I*o, and go it shall, it it taK<?6 a fight of 20 rounds. Cabinet is absolutelv unanimous in its decisions on the matter. Its members are prepared to immediatelv introduce a Bill to bring about the ‘initiative referendum and It is anticipated that the Council Abolition Bill will be defeated this week. Mr Lang then proposes to close the session, to call another special session, and in the event of a further defeat another soecial session. Should he surfer defeat a third time he will then > ake advantage of the constitution and declare vacant the seats of those memIfcts of the Council who have been abfrom the two special sessions. In the meantime the Australian Labour Conference will have been asked to adopt a motion olacing the selection of the members of the Council soleh in tlie hands of the Premier. Armed with this power, lie wil 1 select a number of additional members and go. to the Government for their appointment. He expressed the confidence that the Governor, having been told by the Home authorities that he must obey bis responsible Ministers, would have to make the appointments. Then Mr Lang will call another special session, and with his increased and fullv pledged "supporters, would carry his abolition proposa 1 . The A.ssemiblv. bv 45 votes to 41. discharged the Electoral Bill from the order paper. The Premier (Mr. J. T. Lang), replying to Mr J. R. Bavin (Leader of the Opposition 1 said he had no intention of Hooting the people. The Legislative Council would be abolished now or later without any referendum. Wheirthe Legislative Council met the galleries were crowded and the air was electrical. Mr. A. C. Willis (vice-Presi-dent of the Executive Council) immediately moved for leave to introduce the Abolition Bill. Mr A.lam, one of the new Labour appointees, declared that Labour would be blundering bv abolishing the Chamber

FIRST BOUND. I A TWO VOTES MARGIN. ABOLITION MAY BE CARRIED. SYDNEY, Jan. 20. In the Legislative Council the Government won the first round on the Abolition Bill, the motion introduction being carried by 45 votes I to 43. Paired Labour members refrained from voting. Tlie Bill was read a first time and formally adjourned. The general opinion is the Bill will be carried by one vote.