TREACHERY IN CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 11

TREACHERY IN CAMP

LABOUR AT LOGGERHEADS

A.W.U. AND MR. LANG

(From "The Post's" R«pres«ntativ».)

SYDNEY, 28th. January. - | A definite indication that nnity i« the Labour movement in Australia will be achieved only by sacrifice on tha pait of the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Lang, who has been responsible for the disruption, is given, in the report pf the secretary of the Australian Workers* Union, presented to the annual convention in. Sydney this week. ' , "The split cau§ed by the Lang Planners in the Federal Parliament,-and the political contortions of Mr. Lang himself in the New South Wales .Parliament/ 1 says Mr. Grayndler, "undoubt, edly caused a wave of prejudice against Labour Governments •to sweep tho wholo of Australia. Unions are now left to the /mercy of the anti-Labour Federal Government, which is already; straining at the leash to cripple arbitration so as to bring about greater reductions in salaries and wages. Now we can only hope that the lesson of tho last Federal election will lead to a proper consolidation pf Labour forces throughout the Commonwealth; and a more .rigid adherence than in the past to the real policy and platform of tha great Australian Labour movement.* "When the Federal Labour Govern* ment was treacherously betrayed it had already saved the Arbitration system,, and was, with the' approval of tha inter-State Labour Convention, holding the fort for the workers against . those who sought to destroy their living standard. That betrayal was on« of the most shameful pages in the history of the Labour movement. It was accomplished by a small group of Lang Plan supporters, after a discussion- of ' the position with the anti-Labour forces* and it is significant that their intention to throw the ■ Federal Labour Government, from office was' known to ths Nationalist organisers in Sydney; long before tho fatal division bells rang at Canberra. The few Lang Plan candidates, representing only a faction in . New South . Wales, could not hope to form an Administration that would be of any assistance to the workers. They; could only jeopardise or destroy tha things that Labour in the . Federal sphere was fighting against odds ta uphold."

Following the'reading of this report* the convention decided to express its "uncompromising hostility3^ to the Lang Government on account of various acts for which it was held: responsible^' The general. feeling seemed to be for a ready endorsement of. all that ths general secretary had said. Th« A.W.U., the strongest; -Labour organisation in; Australia to-day, is more bit* terly opposed to Mr. Lang than evei; before.- And it can be: said for certain that Mr. Lang -will never mak* overtures for a settlement.' • -.-.