LATEST LANG PLAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 January 1935, Page 2

LATEST LANG PLAN

REPORTED ELECTION MOVE DENOMINATIONAL SCHOOLS ADVOCACY OF A SUBSIDY It is stated by the “Sydney Morning Herald” that it has learned that certain influential members of the Lang party have been making overtures for the support of certain religious bodies in the forthcoming New South Wales elections, the basis of the negotiations being that the Lang party would advocate State assistance for denominational schools in its election policy. “At the last Lang party Easter conference,” says tlie “Herald,” “a resolution was carried, providing for the teaching of Marxian doctrines in schools. Lang party managers now realise that this resolution alienated the sympathy of many church leaders. Serious consideration has been given • recently to a policy wdiieh would have the effect of counteracting the influence of the Marxian resolution. It is understood that a message has now been sent to prominent church authorities offering to provide subsidies to all denominational schools if the Lang party is returned. “The question of support of denominational schools has been a vexed one for many years in New South Wales, and the Lang party managers believe that if a fair percentage of votes could he obtained through the assistance of the church authorities who, for years, have been urging Governments to aid denominational schools, the Lang party would be given a better chance of success at the polls. “Officials of the Lang party claim that the recent municipal and City Council elections showed that the industrial vote is still solid, but they believe it is insufficient to secure victory without some support from the middle class. One union official, who is opposed to the Communistic elements, said that one might reasonably inquire whether the teaching of Marxian doctrines in the schools would be a condition under which the subsidy was granted. “This latest move by the Lang party is regarded by political observes as an indication of the efforts which the party will make in its endeavours to win the election.