MR. LANG'S OBSESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19470, 28 October 1926, Page 8

MR. LANG'S OBSESSION.

The Labour Premier of New South Wales is bent on pursuing his illstarred attempts to abolish the State's Legislative Council. He has told the Legislative Assembly that he intends to take steps immediately to achieve this purpose. The steps he has taken hitherto have not carried him very far, though they have been characterised by increasing determination. At first, on the eve of the last general elections, he said nothing of this design. He gave a categorical list of his party's aims: "this is what we will try to do if we are returned to power—no more and no less." The abolition of the Council was" not included in the measures then announced. But he found it critical of some of his legislation, and forthwith set about creating a favourable majority in it by nominating a large number of Labour members. They were induced to sign a pledge to vote for the Council's abolition as soon as the hindered measures were passed, though he did not deem it necessary to mention this ulterior purpose of their appointment when giving the Governor the list of nominees. Indeed, he took his own party by surprise. His four Labour predecessors in the Premiership never made any attempt to abolish the Council, recognising that they had no mandate in the matter. The lack of a mandate was an unconsidered trifle to Mr. Lang, and he exacted without compunction the pledge of political suicide. But some of his party had qualms of conscience. Two prominent Labour councillors of long standing, one a former whip of the party, renounced allegiance to him and publicly charged him with dishonourable political practice. To add to his discomfiture, some of his own nominees refrained from voting for the Council's extinction. Doubtless they thought themselves absolved from their pledge by the proof that he had descended to reprehensible means in endeavours to gain his end. The Council survived his covert assault. Undeterred, he returns to the charge, though he has recently had a narrow escape of ejection from the party leadership. His purpose has become an obsession. It remains to be seen what steps he will take. He may try to flood the Council with a further batch of Labour members, and he may not find it easy to convince the Governor that their appointment is justifiable. The alternative is, a submission of the question to a referendum. His obvious avoidance of this course hitherto suggests that he has no confidence that the verdict will support him. Queensland's experience will not encourage the neighbouring State to abolish a salutary eheclc on reckless Parliamentary action. The one Australian State without a second chamber, Queensland, is plunging deeper and deeper in the mire of misgovernment. The mounting deficit on its railways, added to the losses on other State enterprises, is a poor recommendation for the placing of all power in the hands of a Government able to dictate its policy without fear o£ review.