The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1927. MR LANG'S PREDICAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1927. MR LANG'S PREDICAMENT.

Mr Lang, Premier of Xo»' South Wales, has been described as ‘‘a wild man in politics.” As a Labour Thornier he has been very adventurous, and his eccentric ways have ended in calling down the wrath of his_ own party upon him. The climax which has just been reached ending in the Labor split and Mr Lang’s expulsion, together with the sudden creation of a new Ministry, is the subject of much adverse comment on Mr Lang's ways and methods. Mr Lang, however, remains stubborn, and lias a facility f >r sticking to office which indicates that lie places office even before party. Rut his predicament is a precarious one. and the sequel promises to end adversely to his political career. There is a crisis jn New South Wales politic?

til the moment which can he met only by a general election, an event tinuil for August, if Mr Hang i- not al-

fonled further opportunity ol postponing the electors’ decision. The (.vents which have directly led up to the present political crisis in New South Wales, says a contemporary, are in themselves curious and instructive. Mr Hang, who is a weak lint ambitious man, inordinately fond of power, litis always been inclined to I ruckle to the ext realists on the Left W ing of the Hahour party in the hope of securing

their support. Hast Faster :i section of the party, headed by Mr Seale, broke away from the main body and called a conference, which was attended by Mr Hang. When Mr Seale and his friends diss minted themselves I rein the list of the party, and proceeded to act on their own responsibility. Mr Hang was called upon to explain his action in attending such a conference. He promptly repudiated the Seale faction. hill when Mr Seale and his followers practically conlerrcd upon him tin l dictatorship of the new party, tin t< mutation was apparently too strong for him to resist. Mr Hang's evil genius at this juncture, as often before, was Mr A. C. Willis, vice-chairman of the Kxecutive Committee, a singularly reckless and audacious "Left Winger” -o whom Mr Hang has always been especially subservient; and we may assume with some certainty that what Mr Lang did subsequently was done under Mr Willis’ direct guidance. At a moot in of the t>xo<*nt i vo. hel<l recently. the Premier, supported by Afr Willis, moved for a dissolution. The rest of the Cabinet opposed tills, and the Governor naturally declined to grant the request. Then Mr Hang, acting in collusion with Afr Willis and the Seale faction, tendered his resignation. which of course carried with it tli(“ resignation of his Government. The Governor was compelled to accept this and to commission Afr Lang, who has a majority in the House, lo form another ATinistry on the understanding that there is to he a dissolution followed by a general election. The most extraordinary feature of this remarkable complication is the fact that, apart from his friend. Air Willis, no member of the Labour Government knew that the Premier meant either to ask for a dissolution or to resign. Afr Lang has formed a new Cabinet, which the Australian Labour Party will not recognise, and the other members of the late Cabinet have appealed to public opinion in a statement which is nearly as strongly worded as the AfcTiernnn manifesto. ATr Lang and Afr AYillis, by their dishonourable and treacherous actions have split the Labour party, they have ruined its prospects for the time being, and have thus played into the hands of its enemies. But the loyal supporters of the Australian Labour Party predict utter destruction for Afr Lang and Afr Willis, and no doubt they will do their best to see that their prophecy is fulfilled. Tt is a little difficult to imagine how Afr Lang, who is not lacking in personal experience, could place himself in such a desperate position. But his overweening ambitions, his confidence in Afr Willis, and the alluring bait of dictatorial power offered hv the Seale faction, have evidently combined to gel the better of his judgment.