NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1927, Page 4

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

RIVAL LEADERS. MR BAVIN OPENS. “ This is the first shot, in u tight which is going to end in the defeat and expulsion of the worst and the most disreputable Government New South Wales has ever had, said Mr Bavin amidst applause. “It is appropriate that it should be fired in a country electorate, because heavily as the extravagant and reckless policy of the Lang Government has hit the dwellers in the towns, it has hit the country even harder. It is the country dwellers who are paying the

heaviest penalty of Lang’s misgovern- j ment. and it is they who will gain j most by his defeat. I am very glad j to ho supported by Air Ruttenslia.w. j His presence shows that the force ! which will be fighting against the J present Government will he a united I force, and that when the elections

come the friends of sane, decent povernmoni. will not be iound fighting amongst. themselves, but that those who want to restore something like decency to the public life ol the Suite will present a united front. As a matter of fact, although Ml' Mill-

ten-haw leads the Country party and I lead the National party, we are botli standing in ibis election for something that is more important than any more party platlonn. Me ate representing not so much merely the adherents of a political creed, but all those whatever they call themselves who want to see sane and decent go\ornmont restored, and the good name of New South Wales lifted out ol the mini into which it has been plunged by the present- Govern ment. GOV URN A TEXT FROM GUTTER. “New South AVules lor the last two vears has been governed trom the gutter. Apart from the ruinous and reckless policy of the Government all the. elementary decencies ol public life have been delicti, and all moral considerations have been eliminated from public affairs. Iho Kings representative has been insulted and decried by tin? very men sworn to give him their host counsel and advice. A determined effort has been made to smash the Constitution and make a radical change in its machinery without allowing the electors any voice in the matter. Ibis has been done merely for party purposes. Open bribes have been given to members of Parliament to strengthen the position of the Government. Air Kay. the so-rnlleil i nilepenileiit member, was given a high public office lor which lie had no i|iialilicntiolls whatever. merely to get him out. of the way and make room lor a pledged Labour supporter. The Public Service has been insulted and wronged by the appointment to high offices ol men like Mr Treble, whose sole claim was that, lie had been a faithful henchman for Air La.ng.

ATTACK ON THE PREMIER. "'The Premier of the country lias openly and deliberately broken the solemn promise given to I’ai'liament on the si l ength of which ],o was allowed to remain in office. Mr Lang lias never thought it necessary even to give :.n explanation of ihe most insolent breach of I'aitli of which any Minister has ever been guilty. To-day we are in the proud position of having as Premier a man wlhose word no one in this country can accept. This is illustrated by the attitude of most people in this country towards Mr Lang's latest promise of a dissolution. That promise was given to the Governor in writing, but there is hardly a man in New South Wales who does not believe that il any way could he found for avoiding the. fulfilment of this promise it will not be kept. In fact, to-day, in order to show how much importance Air Lang's own supporters attach to his promise, strong efforts aro being made by Air Lang’s in Parliament to prevent an election front being held, and many Labour members openly take it for granted that if Air Lang could he assured of a majority in the House when ii meets there would be no electii>ii. Personally I hare no doubt that l.licre will he an election aml that Mr Lang will not he able to break his promise a- he broke the last

om*. is it any wonder in tliese circumstances that Mr Lang is described bv his own political colleagues and supporters who have been in intimate association with him for the hist two years in terms which I would hesitate to use. about my strongest political opponent? I say that it is an insult to the workers of New Mouth Wales for Mr l.ang or any of his Ministers to dare to say that honest working men approve of the methods I have described. TH E “ANTI-LANOITES.”

“Many people throughout the community appear to be under the impression that the anti-Lang faction in tlic Labour party, which is now led by Mr Mutch, has broken away from Mr

l.ang on some (piestion of principle, and that it represents a protest against his discreditable methods. This is not so. No doubt, M essrs -Mutch. McTieriiiiii, and Lazzarini, and Dr Evatt and their friends will endeavour to represent themselves as men who have broken away from Mr l.ang on the question of principle, and will seek support in mis ground. Nothing, can be further from the truth. They have supported Mr Lang in every one of the worst acts of which he has been guilty, and it was not until Mr Lang’s crooked methods affected their personal interests that they made any protest at all. Every one of them hacked Mr Lang in dishonouring his promise of a dissolution. I: is important to remember that these members did not leave the Ministry of their own accord. They were kicked out by Mr Lang without their knowledge. They are today saving about Mr Lang precisely what wo have lioeii saying for the last two years, except that they are saving it with a good deal more violence and emphasis. But ir is extraordinary that these gentlemen, who have Itoen so closely associated with Mr Lang tor so long, should have failed to make the discovery of his political treachery and dishonesty until it affected their own personal interests. EFFECT OF LABOUR VICTORY. “Hence. I hope the electors of this State will not be deluded into the belief that these gentlemen, who have enlisted under the banner of Mr Mutch are standing for any principle, or that 1 hev have broken away from the predominant party in order to express disapproval oi Mr Lang’s conduct. Hence j we are lighting in this election not J merely against a particular legislative policy, hut against a party which has already made perfectly plain its determination to stop at- nothing that will keep it, in power for an indefinite period. irrespective of the will of the electors. Never before hn.s the position in this State been so critical. A victory for Mr Lang and his friends at tin's election would mean a triumph for all that is worst and most degrading in the community. It would mean the destruction of Parliament as a deliberate assembly, and the end of any true democratic Government in New Mouth Vales. Tt would mean a triumph for the forces of selfishness, of disloyalty and corruption, which have already brought- discredit and disgrace upon the verv name of Now South Vales, U

1 MR BUTTENSHAW SPEAKS. "I am here primarily for the purpose of explaining to the electors of New South "Wales (1) the reason that prompted us to co-operate with the , Nationalists in an endeavour to defeat the present Government: and (2)

to clear the atmosphere in connection with the many misunderstandings that have apparently arisen because ol our attitude in entering into an agreement for the elections campaign. ’ -said Mr Buttenshaw. in his opening remarks. “I hae no intention of apologising for our existence as a third ! party in politics, as 1 sincerely bo- , lieve that our ellorts are, daily, being 1 more appreciated by the general com j mnnitv. "We are determined, in future, !to he more aggressive on important-

country questions that arc so essential to the welfare and prosperity of the State. "We must displace policies and platforms that- are worn threadhare, and that, after all, are mere election promises, by something con struct.ivc and up to date. "Wo are not going to waver in our erv for decen-

tralisation. hut are determined to see that an honest attempt is made to have it carried out. Naturally, we regard our own standard as the best, hut we must he careful lest we clash with the next best, and thus make it possible for the worst form of government aga-in to got possession of the Treasury benches. SACRIFICES BY BOTH PABTIES. •'The desire lor the termination of the Lang Administration i-< so intense all over New .South Wales.” added Mr Buttenshaw, “that everything possible had to be done to bring: about its downfall, and some sacrifices had lo ho made by both parties in opposition to ensure success at the elections. Practically the whole of the legislation of the present Government is already having a detrimental effect on all industries. The Lang Government is not a responsible, nor, in my opinion, n trustworthy Government-. The financial position is not ns promising as it should he—as a matter of fact Parliament anil the people have practically lost control of the finances of the State under the present AdininistraI lion. The Premier and hi-- followers I ..| . ’.• 1: g | - ff" •• aVi-id i i lace tin* p‘ojrlc and obtain from , them an expression of opinion. They I ii"ue-ir t i be all sh:-moles* and totally in liferent to the price that is being p ’id by the community foi this lease , i 1 i ol.it ica! life. The Government lias ! a e one feather left with which l" s cover up its ineptitude to govern the Slate and its lack of political (lo- ■ ivy and mortality. You cannot In i: ain i nil fill of all the promises made r lo- (he Pivini-w l! in I linve been iTe’’iI -'rately and wilfully broken alien it s-itiil him to <li so. AYe have Dr K alt’s ortbursl within the last v.e'k. , v. iiirh is a serious indictment of AH ( , Lang. Amongst other tilings, he |t slates: “I say of Air l'.at'g that he s i. n meiiaie not merely to good gov.ernu ii'ent but to the workers t lieinsclv<*«. lie aeetises him oi' all sorts of wrongdoing and impropriety, yet., with all this umnistakoable evidence of his uns , suitability for the position that he licl l. Dr Kvalt and his cninradcs pert in it ted this month-piece lor Goulhourn street actually to loiitrol (lie destinies cl .Yew Smtli Wales for so long.

AT BA.MSG ATE. Mr l.ang said that lie had been called a “ Bed ” and a “ Bolshevist.” lie) ■ aid that lie was neither, but when they saw springing and growing up all .around, tin* country red tiled roofs, for which, be said, be claimed to be responsible, In* was glad to be a Bod

and a Bolshevist. That- had been ’ made possible, lie said, by his legislation, which enabled tho Government Savings Bank to advance up to 90 per cent of the value of the property. That, he said, was the highest amount advanced in aiiv part of the wori'd. There was a lot of other legislation that he. had not been able to got through, but lie would probably do sol next session. (Loud applause.) The present Government, lie said, had ear-1 ried out a good deal of humanitarian legislation, swell as the -1 1-hour week, and had other measures on its programme. hut it could not carry it out because finances would not allow it. But. he said, although we have had a strenuous and trying time, we will come out at the end of the financial vear with a splendid credit. (Loud

applause.) .Mr Lang said lie had been criticised for his action in handing his resignation to the Governor. “ But,” he said, ” 1 to'l'd the people when 1 was elected and time after time that liiv only aim was to serve them—not on election day only. But L found that I was so hamstrung and hoppled that I could not serve you tor anothei 1months; therefore, 1 said 1 would trust the people, whom 1 was always prepared to trust.” (Applause.)

Referring to local matters. Air Lang said the present Government had expended or was expending more on railways than ever before in its history. Over seven and a half millions had been spent, a good deal ol which was in connection with Lhe electrification of the suburban lines, and it was proposed to give another GJ- mili'ions to enable them to keep pace. It was also proposed to spend i.*123.000 on the electrification of the Kogarali-Sans Solid train. (Loud applause.) In connection with education. Mr Lang said that sonic people had endeavoured to make out that expenditure had been curtailed, hut the figures showed that New South Wales had the best system and had spent more than any other State. So iar from the department having been starved it had not boon able to spend the amount allotted to it- either for new buildings or for repairs.

Dealing with his alleged dictatorship Air Lang said that arose wh*>n a special conference was called, al v. -h the question came t o of expelling i rtain peopi’e. ami the very men vho were now saying that lie was dost losing the Labour movement were tl: so who gave him that power. It had been said that tbe party was disunited, hut he claimed that the rank and file were more united than ever before. “Tho elections will be coming on verv shortly. and there ' ill lie only one Labour party.” be said.