ATTEMPTS FAIL TO MEND SPLIT IN N.S.W. LABOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18010, 22 November 1926, Page 4

ATTEMPTS FAIL TO MEND SPLIT IN N.S.W. LABOUR.

LANG MUST RESIGN. SAYS LOUGHUN, OR ELSE NOTHING CAN BE DONE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 22. 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, November 22. Strenuous efforts were made over the week-end to effect a settlement with Messrs Loughlin, Gooden and Gils > but they remained obdurate, and the efforts were fruitless. It is rumoured that a section of the Labour Party, with a view to settlement, suggested, that Mr Lang should stand down, but his supporters made it clear that thev wanted him to face the situation and place on the malcontents the responsibility of throwing the Government out of office. The Labour caucus held a length v meeting in camera. It was officially announced that the situation was fullv discussed, and that it was derided to await developments in the House today. At the Australian Labour Party executive meeting, Mr Mutch, Minister of Labour, disagreed with Mr Lang’s view that ‘if an election was held the Labour Party would obtain forty-seven seats. lie thought that, owing to the position over the dictatorship, they would not get more than thirty seats. Mr Mutch continued that he w f as vigorously opposed to the position created t>y the resolution of the conference making the Premier a dictator. He would not consider, however, any proposal to vote against the party. He said that the appointment of a dictator had done the party much harm. The dictatorship meant that Ministers were like a lot of school children, and had to carry out the orders of the dictator. Another executive meeting will be held to-night to consider to-day’s events. The committee appointed to meet Messrs Gooden and Gillies endeavoured to discuss the situation with them, but both refused to do anything except in the presence of Mr Loughlin. The committee also visited M r Loughlin, and discussed the matter at length. It is understood that he declined to reconsider his decision, and said that, unless Mr Lang resigned the leadership of the party nothing could be done.