POLITICAL SURPRISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 9

POLITICAL SURPRISE.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MR. LANG'S APPOINTEES. NEW GUARD DISGUSTED. CONTROVERSY AROUSED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received November 22. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov.. 22. The swearing-in of the new appointees of the New South Wales Legislative Council probably will take place on Tuesday. Two women are included. They are the first to be appointed to the Upper House. " The New Guard views with disgust the appointment to the Legislative Council of persons who by their own utterances are proved to be disloyal to the King, the Empire and the Commonwealth," says Captain Sutherland, "Military Secretary" of the New Guard, which, he declares, is fortified in its determination to join in an unceasing battle with disloyalists.

" Only two courses are open to the community," says Captain Sutherland. " The first is servile submission to the dictation of the junta of union secretaries, and the second is a refusal, to submit. In this crisis the New Guard expects loyal citizens to rally to the colours as they did 17 years ago. " The appointments may shortly serve to demonstrate to the Government whether the New Guard is waning in force, as some Ministers have declared." Effect on Sharemarket. The Sydney Stock Exchange yesterday morning displayed some hesitancy as a result of the political surprise. Trices were lower at the opening but mostly recovered later. Bank of New South Wales shares, after changing hands at £3O 10s, firmed to £3O 15s. The Daily Telegraph says that though apparently sudden the Governor's decision is believed to date back to last December, when the Premier, Mr. Lang, asked for additional appointments. Sir Philip Game then offered. 25 and it was not until yesterday that this offer was accepted. With its stronger hand the Government is expected to revive immediately its mechanical hareracing legislation, the Arbitration Bill in its original form, the Insurance Companies' Deposit Bill and possibly the five shillings, in the pound wage tax.

Opposition Leaders Astounded. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. R. Bavin, says he is at a, loss to understand why the appointments have been made. Any measure which had been defeated in the Upper House had been defeated by Mr. Lang's own party and there could be no possible justification for the appointment of so large a number. Mr. F. S. Boyce, Leader of the Opposition in the Council, says:—"l am astounded at the number of appointments. To my mind the Council was the bulwark of the people's freedom,, What it has done to be treated in this manner passes my comprehension." GOVERNOR'S ACTION. OPINION IN LONDON. "HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY." LONDON, Nov. 20. The correspondent of the Sun-Herald says there is little doubt that Sir Philip Game's consent to the appointments to the New South Wales Legislative Council was given entirely on his own responsibility, also that the consultations of Mr. A. C. Willis, Agent-General for the State, at Whitehall were confined almost-solely to informing the authorities of Mr. Lang's attitude. There is no reason to think that Sir Philip sought advice in London or that the British Government departed from its scrupulously impartial policy by which Governors, as His Majesty's direct representatives, act on their own initiative.