MR. BAVIN CENSURED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17471, 21 January 1931, Page 7

MR. BAVIN CENSURED

“DISLOYAL STATEMENTS”

MR. LANG’S DRAMATIC ATTACK UNPRECEDENTED MOVE SVDNEV, Jan. 20. There was an unprecedented and dramatic move by the Premier, Mr. Lang, when the Legislative Assembly reopened this afternoon. Mr. Lang moved a motion of censure on the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bavin, ami the former Treasurer, Mr. Stevens, declaring that they had made unwarrantable, untruthful and disloyal statements calculated to injure the credit of the State.

Mr. I jump's all ;i c-k is based on statements made during the Inst eleetion campaign, the speaker alleging that Mesrs. Ha via and Stevens and certain Nationalist candidates, with Mr. Bavin’s approval, had ltd the (doctors to believe that, if Labor were returned, the people’s savings would be lib lied by the Labor Ministry from the Government Savings Hank. .Mr. Lang pointed out that as the result of these suggestions and of rumors of a similar character, there had been substantial withdrawals by depositors, and the commissioners of the bank had written to him expressing deep concern in regard to the ultimate possibilities. Mr. Bavin interjected: “1 presume von will follow this up with a motion for our expulsion. Anyhow, 1 invite it.

Opposition members shouted derisively to Mr, Lang: Who are you? Off with their heads!”

Mr. Bavin, referring to Mr. Lang’s motion, described it ns the product, of a lunatic asylum, and, although it was such, there was not. the slightest doubt that Mr. Lang’s party would carry it. Mr. Bavin wondered whether Mr. Lang was quite safe to govern this licnutfiiii country. An interjectin' asked: ‘‘What do you mean'?” “DESIRES TO COYER UP lUS TRACKS” Mr. Bavin replied: “I mean that he is not quite safe to be at the head of allairs of this State. Only yesterday me newspaper had to brand him as a liar as ft result of his denial that he hart not sought linaiicial aid from the Loan Council. It is quite obvious that the Premier now desires to cover up his tracks by asking Parliament tn carry this motion, which would make it the laughing stock of Australia. ’ ’

Mr. Bavin challenged Mr. .tiling or any member of his party to find one will'd in his (Mr. Bavin’s) election speeches which was calculated to caus* ,'uarm among depositors of the savings bank.

Mr. Stevens deplored that the time should bo wasted over such a motion. lie said that during the election speeches were made by certain La borit cs which did infinitely more harm to the credit of Australia than anything said about the Government Savings Bank. The motion was carried on a strictly party division. Mr. Bavin afterwards sought the suspension of standing orders to move a motion censuring the Premier tor having denied on December Id that he had applied to the Loan Council for financial assistance.

Mr. Bavin explained that the press had published correspondence revealing that Mr. Lang’s statement was faTse. The Assembly, therefore, should record its condemnation of Ills action in misleading the House. The motion for the suspension of standing orders was defeated on a party division, and the censure motion lapsed.