LANG BAULKED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 7

LANG BAULKED

UPPER HOUSE “FLOODING”

REFUSED BY THE GOVERNOR - * * NO REASONABLE ARGUMENT 40 APPOINTMENTS ASKED APPLICANTS NUMBER 1347 By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10.30 p.m. < Sydney, Dec. 2. A grand total of 134'7 applications has been received from Labour candidates by the Australian Labour. Party Executive for appointment to the New ■South Wales Upper House. It is understood Mr. J. T. Lang today asked the Governor, Sir Philip Game, to agree to 40 additional appointments. The request was refused, His Excellency taking the stand that no reasonable argument had been submitted in support of the Premier’s contention that the Government’s policy measures were threatened in that chamber, and that until such an eventuality occurred His Excellency was unable constitutionally or reasonably to accede to so many appointments. Cabinet discussed the position for two hours this, afternoon. The Premier declined to make any statement for publication.

The position which now confronts the ■Lang Ministry is almost identical with what occurred in 1925, when after considerable negotiation the then Governor, -Sir Dudley de Chair, agreed to the appointment of 25 new members, sufficient to enable the Council to be swamped. However, a number of these did not attend when the vital division upon the abolition of the Council was taken and the Government’s objective failed. Mr. Lang hurried back' from the' interview and immediately moved the adjournment of the Legislative Assembly, refusing to give any reason beyond saying that a matter of high public importance was involved.

Members immediately scented a political crisis and bombarded the Premier with questions. The adjournment was agreed to on a strictly party division. It is expected Mr. Lang, will take the matter up again with His Excellency. In the Legislative Council two Bills relating to the abolition of that chamber were read a first time on the voices. The second reading is set down for to-mor-row. One of the Bills is designed to repeal the Bavin Government Act which stipulates that the Upper House shall not be abolished until a referendum of the electors is taken.

Everything hinges on the fate of these two Bills. In the event of the Council throwing them out or shelving them, Mr. Lang intends to appeal to the British authorities to recall the Governor, throwing on him the - responsibility for the Government’s failure to give' effect to its legislative policy.

When the debate on the Address-in-Reply in the Assembly is finished no further business will be brought forward pending the outcome of the Upper House impasse.