POLITICAL CRISIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 20 January 1926, Page 8

POLITICAL CRISIS

COUNCIL AND PREMIER. MR LANG’S INTENTIONS. Received January 20, 12.50 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 20. Mr Lang, tho Premier, in an interview referring to tho Government’s latest defeat in tho Council, said: “I will win in tho end. I do not intend to take any notice of the defeat at this juncture. I have determined that the Council shall go and go it shall if it takes a fight of twenty rounds. Cabinet is absolutely unanimous in its decisions on tho matter. It is prepared to ifnmediately introduce a bill to bring about the initiative, referendum and recall.”' It is anticipated that the Council Abolition Bill will bo defeated this week. Mr Lang then proposes to close tho session and call another special session and in tho event of a further defeat another special session. Should he suffer defeat the third time ho will then take advantage of tho constitution and declare vacant the seats of those members of tho Council who havo been absent from the two special sessions. In tho meantime tho Australian Labour Conference will havo been asked to adopt a motion placing tho selection of members of tno "Council solely in the hands of tho Premier. Armed with this power, ho will select a number of additional members and go to tho Governor for their appointment. He expressed confidence that the Governor, having been told by tho Homo authorities that he must obey his responsible Minister, would have to make the appointments. Then Mr Lang will call another special session, and with his increased and fully pledged supporters would carry the abolition proposals. —Press Association.