A NEW PREMIER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23418, 7 August 1939, Page 8

A NEW PREMIER

The difficulty over the premiership of New South Wales has been met, at least temporarily, by the selection of Mr. Alexander Mair, State Treasurer, to succeed Mr. B. S. (Stevens. The new leader, who will remain Treasurer, has told the people, in a broadcast address, that he will adopt the financial policy expressed in the motion by Mr. E. S. Spooner, which led to tho downfall of Mr. Stevens. Cabled comment suggests, however, that Mr. Mair will not live long as Premier to carry out his intentions. Early defeat for him is predicted through a challenge from Mr. Spooner and his followers, with the support of the Labour groups. If that is the prospect, Mr. Spooner must be playing for an appeal to the country. He might be accepted by the United Australia Party as a successor to Mr. Mair, but if the Country Party supported him, as it did Mr. Stevens for over seven years, it would be very forgiving. In a broadcast speech at the week-end Mr. Spooner complained of Country Party domination and advocated a Government confined to members of the United Australia Party. This is quite an old theme of his. When he returned to his electorate immediately after ' his recent resignation, ho indulged in a detailed attack on tho leader of tho Country Party, Mr. M. F. Bruxner, whom ho accused of dominating tho Cabinet. "Mr. Bruxner will not allow tho two parties to work in unison," he said. "He has been responsible for tho continual humiliation of a largo section of tho U.A.P." This charge was hotly denied by Mr. Bruxner. With Buch feelings existing, Mr. Spooner could not oxpect to be accepted by tho Country Party. As tho United Australia section numbers only 35 in a Houso of 00 members, ho cannot hope to see a Government formed exclusively out of this group. If therefore he wants such a Government, he must be prepared to faco a dissolution in search of the majority which does i not now exist..