N.S. WALES POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 34

N.S. WALES POLITICS

AN UNPLEASANT SUGGESTION. SYDNEY, March 10

It is stated that if the Government fails in its efforts to induce the Dominions Office to recall the Governor it proposes to make his position as uncomfortable as possible in the hope of forcing his resignation. Mr Lang’s idea is to secure the appointment as Governor of either a native-born Australian or the governor of one of the other States, possibly Sir James O’Grady, Governor of Tasmania.

TIIE GOVERNOR’S POSITION. SYDNEY. March 12.

The Premier (Mr Lang) stated that he was amused at the press campaign against the Labour Government and the talk about Downing street. He said the Council Abolition Bill was brought in as an answer to a direct challenge from the Nationalist Opposition. Mr Lang added that he refused the right of anyone to order a General Election. So long as the Government commanded a majority in the Assembly it not only had the right, but the duty to rule. The Labour Party was never more united than on the question of the abolition of the Upper House. Mr Lang then commented on the discussion for the recall of the Governor. He said it appeared to him that if he appealed to the Dominions Office he was sacrificing the self-governing rights of the people, but when the Nationalists memorialised Downing street to reject the Labour Government’s legislation they were quite within their rights. When the National Premier demanded and secured the recall of the State Governor he was something of a hero, but the mere suggestion that the Labour Government might be compelled to act in a similar manner filled the Nationalists with horror. He concluded by saying that all the talk about Downing street wa. moonshine, as every well-informed citizen knew that the State Governor was a servant of the State, and was provided with a handsome salary and palatial residence at the expense of the State.

“The only opposition to cur policy conies from our traditional enemies, and I would be unworthy of my trust and a contemptible coward into the bargain. If ' were to lie down and submit to their dictation. It is the rankest humbug to refer to the nominee house as a chamber of revision, when a review of the division lists shows convincingly that the Council is just as much a party house as the Assembly, as so long as it remains in existence the Government of the day must have a majority there or submit to nominee rule. At present the Nationalists have a majority in the Council, and that majority has deliberately panned to thrawt the Government, not only on the Abolition Bill, but on all vital Labour legislation. If the members of the Opposition think the Government is going to be influenced by the torrent of abuse now being levelled at me, they are making the mistake of their lives.’* According to statements in political circles the Governor has already given Mr Lang to understand that he can obtain a dissolution of Parliament if he desires to seek a mandate from the people on the question of the Upper House. _ The consensus cf opinion in political Labour circles is that it is the Premier’s desire to see 9ir Timothy Coghlan (at present Agent-General) in the position now occupied by Sir Dudley de Chair. RECALL OF THE GOVERNOR. LONDON. March 11. The Dominions Office has not received any suggestion from any source regarding Sir Dudley de Chair’s resignation or recall. The question of his resignation is regarded as within Sir Dudley de Chair’s personal discretion and his recall is not even considered as remotely possible. CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. SYDNEY, March 12. The consensus of opinion in Ministerial circles describes as ridiculous the report that Sir Timothy Coghlen is favoured as the successor to the present Governor, members of the Cabinet having accepted Mr Amery’s cablegram in which it was stated that he did not feel able to give any instructions, as he thought the question should be settled between the Governor and Ministers, as a definite ruling. The Governor presided to-dav at the first meeting of the Executive Council since the Government made the decision to ask the Dominions Office for Sir Dudley de Chair’s recall. Mr Lang was absent, and the Council’s meeting was purely of a formal nature. The Governor has received a cablegram from the Dominions Office in reply to the memorial presented by the Premiers of all the Australian States, with the exception of Victoria, asking for the appointment of Australian-born Governors. He will not make the contents of the cable public before it has been communicated to the premiers and Governors of the various States, but it is understood that the Dominions Office adheres to its original attitude that the States must be unanimous before any alteration in the existing system can be made.

A REFERENDUM LIKELY. SYDNEY, March 13.

According to statements made in the parliamentary lobbies, the Ministerialists may urge the Premier to take a referendum of the people on the question of the

abolition of the Upper House. A section of the Cabinet favours this move. The Ministerialists admit that the mission of the Attorney-General to London, in view of the cabled message from the Dominions Office, is a hopeless one. They are now hoping that the Premier will realise before it is too late that he is fighting a hopeless battle, which will probably lead to the wrecking of Labour Administration.