LABOUR “REBELS”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 February 1926, Page 5

LABOUR “REBELS”

lIJ N.S.W. COUNCIL. WILL BE TAKEN TO TASK FOR OPPOSING; ABOLITION. \ - BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received Feb. 25, 11.15 a.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 25. As a result of the abolition vote, the Parliamentary Labour Caucus is now looking to the Australian Labour Party executive to discipline members of the Legislative Council who either voted against the Bill or were absent from the Chamber during the division on Tuesday night. It apfiears likely that the Labour Party will not accept the resignations of Messrs Bryant and Percival, but will call upon them, with others, to show cause why they should not be dealt with. Failing their answering the summons they will be automatically expelled. ABOLITION THIS YEAR. MR. LANG DETERMINED. SYDNEY, Feb. 24. The next move of the Premier, Mr J. T. Lang, regarding the Upper House crisis, will be an appeal at the forthcoming Australian Labour Party conference to abolish the present system of caucus selection for appointment to the Legislative Council and to empower the leader of the party to nominate candidates on his own responsibility, subject to the central executive’s endorsement of the candidate’s qualifier tions as members of the Labour movement. Ministers strongly urge the adoption of this course, and express confidence that the caucus will not raise any objection. It is suggested in some quarters that if Mr Lang is to retain his present following he will be compelled to provide payment for Legislative Councillors, as country members complain that the expense of frequent visits to Sydney is heavier than they can hear. 1 Ministers and the Premier refuse to comment on the situation, Mr Lang only stating that he had nothing to say except to repeat that the Legislative Council would cease to exist before the end of this year. Mr Lang proposes to .adjourn Parliament for a month on Friday next. This is interpreted as a strategic piove on the part of the Premier to prepare for another assault on the Upper House before the long recess is reached. Antiabolitionists, however, are confident that if the Bill is re-introduced it will be again defeated. -