MR. LANG'S LATEST PRANK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21153, 9 April 1932, Page 10

MR. LANG'S LATEST PRANK.

Onlookers at I lie duel between ' Mr. Lane; and the Commonwealth Government have already had ample amusement, l>ut his latest trick goes further si ill toward the limit of freakish farce. To lock up the State Taxation Department, after having the locks changed overnight, and to secrete the keys, in order to stop the issue of taxation assessments and thus impede the efforts of the Commonwealth Government to attach State taxation, is a novel if not particularly clever attempt to defeat Federal legislation. A special touch of burlesque is introduced by the compulsory leave given to a large number of State taxation officials—the selection presumably being made to cover all who, either through approval of the Commonwealth Government's proclamation or fear of penalties incurred by breach of the Enforcement Act, might be tempted to ignore State instructions. No one has expected Mr. Lang to submit without a fight, but even those taking him least seriously could not have thought of his adopting this grotesque ruse. It reduces to utter ridicule his share of the controversy. No exploit of the New Guard, not even the adventurous forestalling of his cutting of the ribbon at the opening of the Sydney Bridge, can match this for frivolity. Jt is excessively funny that a Premier who gravely invokes the law, by taking to the Privy Council his case for the abolition of a State legislature and seeking a ruling of the lligh Court on a measure passed by the Federal Parliament, should be so riHidy to take the law into his own hands. What he hopes to gain is tolerably clear. Apparently he places little store now on legal process, and it suits him better to play for political applause us "the man who would not yield," even when fairly beaten. No doubt this latest prank will win the cheers of his own following and rally them to keep him in office a little longer. He will have his reward —until this sort of thing so spreads disgust among sane-minded electors that a majority of them will thrust him from power for the credit of their State and all Australia. He must know that the Federal authority cannot Vie safely defied by the fantastic means he has adoped, and has elected to try to hold that authority up to Labour ridicule for partypolitical ends. He can count on success in this, but it will be dearly won. In the long run, when (he Commonwealth Government treats this move as seriously as it is bound to do, he will himself be the subject of lasting laughter.