STATE GOVERNORS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 43, 15 November 1926, Page 9

STATE GOVERNORS

EXERCISE OF POWERS IN QUESTION LABOUR GOVERNMENTS CHALLENGE MR. LANG SAYS FIGHT IS ON The New South Wales controversy respecting the rights of State Governors is again brought into prominence by declarations made at the Australian Labour Party Conference. The State Premier prophesied that imported Governors would become a thing of the past and the conference put on record its opinion that State Governors are superfluous. gy TEIiHGBAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPTBIGHT. Sydney, November 13.

Speaking at the opening session of the Australia Labour Party Conference, Mr. J, T. Lang, ■ New South Wales Premier, said that if he continued eo receive the confidence of the people

. the Government | would not only re- | move a nominee L Chamber, but im- | ported Governors I would Become a | thing of the past. I Both belonged to a I bygone age; both * were relicts of a e system utterly in- | compatible with I democratic institul tlons. The fight 5 is on, and it was ..going to be a figkt to a finish. The

“abolition of the Legislative Council” plank in the Labour platform had been left too long in abeyance. He was convinced that it was much nearer realisation to-day than it had ever been before.

Referring to the rejection of a clause tn the Fire Brigades Bill by the legislative Council, Mr. Lang said that it was not really a defeat of the Government at all; it was merely the Capitalists in a nominee Chamber giving the public another demonstration of how thev could protect their pockets and frustrate the Government’s intentions. Mr. R. Bavin, Leader of the Opposition, having failed in the representative Chamber to reduce the contributions of the fire insurance companies towards the maintenance of fire brigades, naturally turned his attention to his friends in the nominee Upper House, and his Nationalist friends, being largely insurance company directors and shareholders, were not slow to act. The result was the defeat of a Government measure and the necessity for a recommittal of the Bill and a renewal of the fight to get the will of the People’s Chamber put into effect. - Vote of Confidence. A motion was carried by 274 votes to 4 declaring that the conference had complete confidence in Mr. Lang as leader, and confirmed him in his leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party for the period of the present Parliament; further, "that, as union is essential to carrying out the platform and policy of the Labour Party, the Premier be authorised, in the event of circumstances arising which, in , his opinion, might imperil that unity, to do all things and exercise such powers as he deems necessary in the interests of the movement.” CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS “STATE GOVERNORS SUPERFLUOUS” (Rec. November 14, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, November 14. The Labour Conference discussed at length the question of State Governors, and passed a series of resolutions to the following effect: — (1) That the conference strongly protests against the action of the Governor in reviving Crown colony methods in this State by refusing to permit his Ministers’ advice to prevail over his own opinions, and. deploring that his attitude should result in aid being given to the anti-Labour minority in the Assembly and to the anti-Labour majority in the Legislative Council in their war. against the Labour Government in the interests of the money powers of the State. (2) That the Labour movement stands for the supremacy of elected representatives of the people, and conference will not tolerate a violation of the Constitution by the exercise of autocratic powers and personal veto by a Governor appointed from abroad, who comes here as a stranger and remains only a few rears.

(3) That a condition of affairs in which the Governor dominates the elected Chamber and Government is diametrically opposed to the ideals and practice of our educated democracy and constitutional practice of the State .which has marched ahead of the autocratic methods of the old colonial days. (4) That the Labour movement in New South Wales expresses the emphatic opinion that Australian people do not need the presence of six State Governors, who are claimed by the National Party tu be vested with personal power not exercised or claimed by the King himself in Britain.

(5) That the conference declares that the Governor-General adequately represents the Imperial connection and the State Governors are superfluous.

(6) We further affirm our determination to maintain the rights of the people to govern themselves without interfer-. ence from a Governor who, whenever he obstructs the Government of the day, teliberately becomes an instrument of opposition and usurps a power not exercised by any other Governor in Australia. The resolutions were carried unani'moiisly. THE MISSION TO LONDON MR. McTIERNAN DRAWS AN INFERENCE Sydney, November 13. In his official’report on his visit to London in connection with the difference between the Lang Ministry and the Governor, the Attorney-General (3£t, B- 4. .McTieraan), that fce

made it clear to the Dominions Secretary (Mr. L. Amery) that he did not come to ask him to abolish the legislative Council. They were agreed that it was not for Mr. Amery to say whether or not the Council should be abolished. In Mr. McTieruan’s opinion the Governor's attitude was destructive of the principle of self-government. Mr. McTiernan contended that the - clause in the Governor’s instructions, empowering him to dissent from the advice,of his Ministers if he believed there was sufficient cause, was an accidental survival from early times. He strongly represented to Mr. Amery that the constitutional documents issued by his office should be recast to make them accord with modern Constitutional practice. Mr. Amery replied that as this clause appeared in the Royal Instructions to Governors in all the Australian States and in. the instruction to other selfgoverning’ parts of the Empire, be- feared the proposal for an alteration was one which could hardly be considered with exclusive preference to the State of New South Wales. Mr. Amery said that he did not feel qualified or willing to express au opinion as to the powers to be exercised by the Governor. Mr. McTiernan holds the view that the only reasonable inference to be drawn from Mr. Amery’s statement, is that the Governor should rccept the advice of his Ministers. He recommends that the opinion of the Legislative Assembly should be sought and cabled te> Mr. Amery,