LANG ASSAILED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21116, 25 February 1932, Page 11

LANG ASSAILED.

TIN-HARE RACING. KEEN INTEREST ALLEGED. CHARGES OF CORRUPTION. CHALLENGE TO REFUTE. FUNDS FOR LABOUR PARTY. By Telecrapli Press Association—Copyright. (Received February 24, 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 24. The Premier of New South Wales, Mr. J. T. Lang, came in for severe criticism in the Legislative Assembly to-day. Mr. B. S. Stevens, deputy-Leader of the Opposition, in the absence of the Leader, Mr. T. "R. Bavin, through illhealth, described the speech made by Mr. Lang yesterday as more or less in the nature of political showmanship. The Premier's only stock-in-trade was " the widow, the orphan and tho workless." The fact remained, said Mr. Stevens, that while the Government found little time to deal with the main problems of the day—namely, the financial drift, tho vast, unemployment, tho industrial turmoil and poverty—it was very much concerned about restoring licences to tin-hare companies, which were likely to earn prodigious profits and which smelt to heaven of political trickery and corruption. The public wero entitled to know why the Premier had suddenly taken an intimate interest in this tin-hare business. It was common knowledge that the organiser of greyhound racing, "Judge" Swindell, an American importation, had easy access to tho Premier's department. A section of the press had alleged that £20,000 of tho share capital of two tinhare companies had already been donated to the Labour Party's funds and that further favours were being bestowed as the result of the intervention of " Judge" Swindell, who seemed to have a remarkable influence upon the Premier. The whole thing reeked of suspicion. Why did not the Premier see fit to defend his honour and the honour of his Government—this Government which prated so much about the poor and needy? Mr. Stevens challenged Mr. Lang to sue the newspapers which were responsible for these charges of corruption. Mr. Frederick S. Swindell some time ago captivated and fascinated Sydney's | sporting fraternity with the latest thing in greyhound racing by means of the mechanical hare. The " Judge," as he is popularly called, was born in Virginia, and a legal career had been mapped out for him. But lie saw financial possibilities in mechanical hare coursing, and in a short time the. new sport had taken America by storm. 'J he " Judge" purchased the rights for Australia and New Zealand. When mechanical bare coursing boomed in America, the price of greyhounds soared so high that Mr. Swindell went to England to buy some, good ones. Ho bought them, but was compelled to pay as much as £4OO each for them. ATTACK ON MB. BRUCE. REPLY BY MR. LYONS. RESPONSIBILITY FOR BILL. (Received February 21, 11.25 p.m.) CANBERRA, Feb. 24. The Primo Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, in replying to Mr. Lang, said Mr. S. M. Bruce was in no way responsible for the Financial Agreement Enforcement Bill now before the. Federal Parliament. 'J he measure was part of tho election campaign for which the Federal Government had a definite mandate. Mr. Bruce was then in England. Dir. Lyons warned Mr. Lang that he could not defeat the measure by any of the methods outlined in his speech yesterday. Mr. J. H. Scullin, Leader of (he Opposition, intimated that the Labour forces would oppose the bill largely on the ground that it contained dangerous principles affecting State rights. INSURANCE BILLS. FEDERAL AND STATE. NEW SOUTH WALES POSITION. CANBERRA, Feh. 24. The Attorney-General, Dir. J. G. Latham, explained to-day that even if Mr. Lang rushed his Insurance Deposits Bill through frhe New South Wales Parliament before the Federal measure becomes law he would bo powerless to seize securities from insurance companies. The Commonwealth bill, which is now before tho Senate, specifically prevents any State doing this whether its Act be passed before or after the Federal measure.