SETBACK FOR MR LANG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22114, 18 November 1933, Page 11

SETBACK FOR MR LANG

N.S.W. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE FIRST BALLOT. (From Otjb Own Correspondent.) '•SYDNEY, November 0. The first ballot for the election of the newly-constituted Legislative Council in New South Wales cannot be regarded as other / than satisfactory by those who expect that the Upper House shall be “removed from the realms of partisan politics and representative of all classes.” Such was the desire expressed by the Premier (Mr B. S. Stevens) while ho was giving particulars of the reform which hia Government f had planned. The election waa confined to member* of the Legislative Assembly and of the old Upper House. Three ballots, each for the election of 15 members, who will hold office for a varying number of years, will be held. Among the first 15 elected the Gfivernment will have nine straightout supporters, and is well satisfied with the result. However, so many strange things happened at the first ballot that the subsequent ballots will be followed with even greater interest and, perhaps, not a little anxiety, by all sides. The ballots are conducted on a most elaborate preferential voting system, and there is ample room for confounding the expectations of all political parties, no matter how well they may be organised —how well their supporters may be disciplined. The Lang Labour Party realises this to its sorrow. The Government had announced that there would bo no strict Ministerial “ ticket,” although there was, obviously, a general understanding as to the desires of the Government. On the other hand the Lang Labour Party attempted the strictest regimentation of its followers, and'the Trades Hall prepared its plans confidently. Lang Labour supporters now frankly confess amazement at the failure of their carefully devised ticket, which resulted actually in the return of only two members. The party expected »t least six.

It was a further shock to realise that the two Lang men returned —Messrs,/ A. A. Alam and Mr J. M. Concannon, were not included among the group set down for election in the first ballot. They defeated euch Trades Hall stalwarts as Mr E. C. M'Grath and Mr J. Tyrrell, the latter being chairman of directors of the Lang Labour paper., It came as even a greater disappointment when it was known that the secretary of the Federal Labour group (Mr J. F. Higgins) had succeeded, and that success had also come the way of an independent, Mr T. C. Trautwein, a patron of the turf who has paid high prices for New Zealand horses, and a member of a Labour league. It is of interest to note that the Labour League concerned is talking of expelling Mr Trautwein for having the temerity to oppose official Labour men in the ballot. Bis likely that there will bo some furious heresy-hunting among members of the party generally. Mr Lang !s not accustomed to seeing his plans so disregarded. There were four women candidates for the new Council and it is significant that not one of them was in the running for a place among the first 15. As a matter of fact, not one woman received a first preference vote. With all the defeated candidates they will have other opportunities of election in the later ballots, but on the voting to date they have little chance of securing return. The first result? also indicate that the Government will have a! substantial majority in the new Chamber, but it would not be safe to predict that too definitely. The first ballot has shown that surprises are possible—very real surprises—even in the Government votes. It was at least anticipated, for instance, that the Attorney-general, who is a member of the old Upper House, would be returned on first preferences. As a matter of fact he did not gain his place until after the 42nd count. Among the first 15 all but Mr Trautwein were members of the old Chamber. It will be six weeks before the full constitution of the new Council is' known, so there is some Justification for those who complain that the system of election is unduly complicated.,