UPPER HOUSE REFORM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 16 September 1933, Page 7

UPPER HOUSE REFORM

MR LANG’S OPPOSITION. LABOUR PARTY’S POLICY. EQUITY COURT CASE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright.) Received September 16, 11.10 a.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 16. The Labour Daily states that Mr J. T. Lang has submitted a petition to be cabled to the King and the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr J. H. Thomas, asking His Majesty torefuse to instruct the Governor to assent to the Bill passed by Parliament last week dealing with the Upper House reform pending an appeal to the Privy Council in the Equity Court claim of Mr T. P. Doyle, the Legislative Councillor, which was dismissed by. the Full Court. The petition sets out that the Australian Labour Party had consistently supported constitutional Government and desires to retain it; that there is intense dissatisfaction over the recent referendum; and that “the Labour Party, and many others opposed to them on ordinary issues, believe the present Ministry is attempting to carry measures overturning popular Government, similar to those that have been carried in European countries.” Meanwhile, in the cases brought by Messrs Piddington and Doyle to have the referendum and State Government’s action upset, mentioned in the Equity Court, acting-Cluet Justice Harvey said he found difficulty in deciding what to do. Tlio. suits should be amalgamated and the issues stated in one case before proceeding to seek appeal to a higher authority. . The case was adjourned for a week.