N.S.W. POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1926, Page 1

N.S.W. POLITICS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] SYDNEY, March 15. 11l conscqucnco of the pronounced hostility shown by Alinisterialists it is probable the Premier and colleagues will not now proceed with the proposal to recall the Governor. It is learnt from an authoritative source that the Attorney-General lias been advised by Air Lang to confine his mission to the refusal of Do Chair to make additional appointments to the Legislative Council. The Imperial authorities will be invited to make a definite pronouncement upon the question of whether tho State Governor can refuse to accept the advice of his Ministers when additional appointments to the Legislative Council are desired by a Ministry.

During the week-end. Air Lang issued a statement in which lie announced lie did not propose to take a referendum of the people on the abolition of tlie Upper House and was also opposed to making a direct- appeal to the electors by way of a general election. He asserts lie already has a mandate for tbo reason that the Labour Party received a majority over all other parties at the last election and that the first plank of tho Australian Labour Party platform included the abolition of tho Council. LONDON, -March 14.

Press messages from Australia would make it appear there has been some misreading of the message of .March Sth, referring to the Hon. L. C. M. S'. Amery’s (Dominion Sec.) December despatch pointing out the New South Wales Legislative Council question was a purely constitutional matter Iwtween the Governor and his Ministers. This reference was followed by an unoffifcjal but authoritative opinion that failing an agreement between Governor and Ministers, it was obvious tlie ultimate tribunal must bo the electors. This unofficial opinion, appears to have been mistakenly road in Australia as part of tho despatch, instead of merely authoritative eomment upon the despatch. The same authority to-day gave the assurance that if the Governor should not give way and the Government would not appeal to the electors there was another alternative for which there were many precedents, namely to accept the situation until a change of the Governor or a change of Government or both, cleared the way to a mutual agreement.

ADVTCE FOR AIR LANG. SYDNEY, March 15. Tho Trades and Labour Council has issued a. statement congratulating Air Lang on the splendid fight that he has been putting tip for the abolition of the Upper House. Therein, referring lo the local Stale Governor, tlie statement says:—“lt would lie well for the Government to follow the precedent of Seddon’s Government, when a New Zealand Governor refused to execute the will of the people, which effectively brought him to heel by cut ling off bis salary.’’ The statement adds: The New Zealand Governor then soon complied with (lie wishes of the Government and this is a sufficient precedent for .Mr Lang,”