Newspaper Predictions

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5581, 20 February 1931, Page 7

Newspaper Predictions

Australian Press Association. Received Thursday, 10.10 p.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 19.. In the Legislative Assembly to-day the Nationalist member, Mr. Jarvie, directed Premier Lang’s attention to the editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald which stated that if Mr. Lang persists in his mad course of repudiation, secession with tho possibility of civil war may result. Mr. Jarvie asked whether the Premer would take steps to purge the good name of New South Wales. Mr. Kelly, a Labourite, on the same matter, asked whether 'the Premier would consider the desirability of suppressing newspapers which maligned the Government and members of the House. ■ Replying, Mr. Lang said the leading articles in the journal owned by the millionaire, Fairfax, did not disturb him in the slightest, and added: “This State is in a parlous position because of Nationalist rule. The railways do not pay partly because of concessions to newspapers carried on the railways. I intend to look into that aspect and if the newspapers continue to disparage and defame the Government and country, we shall, in due course, take steps to deal with them.” Replying to another question by the Labourite, Mr. Stuart Robertson, who said that in another part the Herald editorial referred to a possible financial revolution and to the fact that the farmers in the north were organising with a possible call to arms, Mr. Lang said that should the Herald or any other newspaper succeed in causing a rebellion, mcmbeis could accept his assurance “that we are in a position to manage and, suppress it—such propaganda is bound to recoil on the heads of the .authors.” (Opposition laughter.) He said he was quite aware that steps were being taken by those opposed to Labour to resort to force. Ail ex-member of the House was one of the organisers. He had also been informed that organisations had already been formed in Victoria and South Australia and that these people were armed. Consequently, if an attempt were made to do this, the New South Wales Government would not stand idly by, but would certainly deal with them. Sir Thomas Henley: “Bring out your Communists.” Mr. Lang: “I will show them the laws are just as sacred when Labour is in power as when anti-Labour is in office.