Was Lang Bluffing ?

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6519, 7 April 1931, Page 7

Was Lang Bluffing ?

AMERICAN PAPER’S SHREWD GUESS. Received Monday, 8.45 p.m. NEW YORK, April 5. The New York Times, in a leader “Australia Thinks Twice,” states: “la the strained, domestic situation between the Commonwealth and New r South Wales it is strongly suspected that the latter is not so savage as might appear. One may conjecture that the militant Lang is pleased at. heart that there is a Scullin to permit him the luxury of a great gesture of defiance without incurring the risk of its untoward consequences. Would New South Wales have ventured to refuse to phy interest on her bonds in the hands' of ;British owners if she had not known the Commonwealth would intervene and assume the repudiated obligations? Beyond that Mr Lang must kave'known as it .how appears that the central Government has " means of reimbursing itself. “Actually it may be said of the present situation in Australia that compared with the outlook a few ’months ago it is distinctly reassuring Outweighing the gesture of one . State in- dishonouring its obligations is the decisive manner in which the Federal Government has spoken out and acted

on the other side. To-day there is no question where Mr Scullin stands.”