The New Zealand Times FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1926. A PREMIER VERY HOT UNDER THE COLLAR

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 6

The New Zealand Times FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1926. A PREMIER VERY HOT UNDER THE COLLAR

We fancy that Mr J. T. .Lang is feeling sorry for himself. He has not cut a dignified figure in the last few months. When he swamped his Upper House with nominees pledged to suicide, Mr Lang did not provide for leakages or recalcitrants. No doubt he relied on the gold pass bribe and servility to the party machine to ensure the attainment of his end. But the unexpected happened, leaving the Premier in a very pother of trouble, not to say ignominy. The Council is still alive and in being; Mr Lang also is alive, but jumping with indignation. Apparently he can abolish the Council only by appointing additional members. The Governor’s assent is necessary, but it has not been obtained. The result is a Premier more embarrassed than ever, and much more indignant. To such an extent has his choler developed that he has requested the Dominions office to recall the Governor. If that move fails, it is reported, with some show ot authority, that Sir Dudley de Chair is to be “pin-pricked” out of office.

It was just such an expedient which Mr Lang adopted to get rid of the late Agent-General in London. That gentleman having a five-year contract, it was obviously not good business to dismiss him summarily. The Premier knew a way better than that; he made things sp uncomfortable for the Agent-General that he tendered his resignation. If report speaks true, Sir Dudley de Chair is to be treated in like manner.

The imported article disposed of, it is Mr Lang’s intention (or so it is said) to install as Governor either a native-born Australian, or, possibly, the Socialist Governor of Tasmania. The Tasmanian proposition does not sound convincing, but Mr Lartg would find plenty of applicants if the Governorship were thrown open to Australians. The wire-pulling and hole-in-the-comer conspiracies which would follow can easily be imagined. The bidding for su spectacular a prize would shame Bedlam. In Queensland, Socialist-ridden Queensland, they enjoyed—• may still enjoy, in fact—a colonial Governor, or deputy-Governor. Even if Mr Lang succeeds in ridding himself of the Council and imported Governors, that policy would run only as long as he retained office. Once he was ousted, his successors would be free to reinstate both institutions if they believed in them. All in all, Mr Lang is making rather a mess of things. As has been noted, he is impotent to kill the Council dead beyond all hope of resurrection. He has behaved like a naughty schoolboy detected in a cheap misdemeanour. Worse than that, he has contrived by his bluster and blundering to antagonise stalwarts in his own ranks—a risky business when one' has but a slight advantage over the enemy.