FATE OF UPPER HOUSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 7

FATE OF UPPER HOUSE

SURPRISE FOR MR LANG WHAT DID GOVERNOR SAY? THE EXTRA APPOINTMENTS IBy Telegraph—Press Aseociation—Copyright.] Received Dec. 2, 8.40 p.m. BYDNEY, Dec. 2. The Premier, Air J. T. Lang, had an interview with the Governor, Bir Philip Game, to-day, concerning the additional appointments to the Legislative Council. A deadlock resulted, and AD Lang hurried back and immediataiy 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. The press expresses the opinion that Air Lang’s request for new appointments to the Upper Mouse has been either flatly refused or held iu abeyance.

It is expected that Air Lang will take the matter up again with his Excellency.

Tho House rose till to-morrow.

Request Refused. A later message states that it is understood that Air Lang asked the Governor to agree to 40 additional appointments to tho Upper House. 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 th: 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. Tho Premier declined to make any tatement for publication. The position which nc confronts the Lang Ministry is almost identical with what occurred in January, 1925, when, after considerable negotiation, the then Governor, Sir Dudley do Chair, agreed to tho appointment of 25 new members sufficient to enable the Council to bo swamped. However, a number of these did not attend when the vital division upon the abolition of tho Council was taken, and the Government’s objective failed.