MR. LANG AND THE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 8

MR. LANG AND THE COUNCIL.

A sensation has been caused by the announcement that the Governor of New South Wales has consented to Mr. Lang's application for 25 new appointments to the Legislative Council. This is because it' comes as a sequel to long-continued disputes between Governor and Premier over this and kindred subjects. The course of the whole affair can be traced iri a considerable amount of official correspondence made public from time to time. Tn November last year, Mr. Lang made application for appointments to force through his measure to abolish the Council. On November 7, Sir.Philip Game told Mr. Lang he would agree to make appointments as soon as they could determine the number necessary. Early in December, however, when Mr. Lang asked for appointments—unofficially stated as "between 40 and 50" —the Governor refused, stating he had no proof such a large number was needed, no Government measures have been defeated. At this stage the Council passed the bill for its own abolition, and the dispute turned to the question whether a referendum was necessary before it became law. Proceedings in the High Court and an appeal to the Privy Council diverted attention from the appointments question. Interest in it was revived in March this year, when Mr. Lang made another application to Sir Philip, on the ground that the Council was holding up his Arbitration Bill. The Governor had said in November that he should not be asked to appoint new members until the need for them was made clear. In that event Mr. Lang had his promise to do as advised. Main-

taining this attitude in March, Sir Philip wrote that the Council had referred the bill to a select committee, which it "appeared entitled to do." He concluded his letter :"I do not feel, therefore, that I should be justified in accepting your advice to appoint additional members to the Legislative Council." It was 'in consequence of this attitude that Mr. Lang attempted to 'secure the intervention of the Dominions Office. In July it was evident the deadlock continued. Caucus had demanded 60 new appointments, and Mr. Lang, referring to. the Governor's continued refusal to accept his demands, contemplated asking for his I'ecall. The grounds for desiring new appointments were that important measures, including .the Arbitration Bill, were still being delayed. Now that the appointment of 25 is announced, it would appear that a compromise has been effected. Tt will be interesting to discover the grounds upon which the Governor, after holding out so long, has now acceded, though possibly only in part, to what Mr. Lang has persistently sought.