The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1927. CASTING THE DIE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1927. CASTING THE DIE.

After a very bitter fight, following a long drawn out preparation in which political strategy was used to the utmost, the Lang Government of New South Wales has met its fate at the hands of the electors. On Saturday the die was cast, and the verdict was against the .Labor Ministry. Tlio Lang Government had a chequered career. Mr Lang is a forceful leader of Mussolini resource, and he made office a fetish. He held on through thick and thin, and it has been remarkable the run he lias had under adverse conditions. The Government pursued a policy which raised influential opposition at last, and the election was a contest as between Labor (as pourtrayed by Mr Lang and his followers) and anti-La-bour. For the latter the prominent political parties fused, the Nationalists and Country Parties, both combining for mutual advantages to oust a Government which it is believed was ruining the country.. In the pre-election days there was much •videncc offered of the ill-effect of the policy pursued by the Government. The effect of the forty-hour week, the operation of family endowment measure in particular, were referred to very caustically. The borrowing proclivities were exposed as being detrimental to the Commonwealth as well as the State. The Premier’s license to do things, and the encouragement given for extreme action by political Labor organisations were recited as reasons for deciding that the party must go. Mr Lang, eloquent and determined throughout, put up a strong fight, and offered a most attractive policy. The result was that the defeat of the Labor party, despite its excesses and the schisms in its own ranks, was not a certainty. The ballot box has now' revealed the truth of what the people in mass think of the political situation. In the recent polling the leaders of the four main parties have been returned. Mr Lang, the Premier, and Mr Bavin, the coming Premie*, both had large majorities in their respective electorates, so tha't they will still face each other as very capable opponents. The cable news states that relief is felt at the result of the election, for it was felt Labor was going too far and too fast in its legislation, while the influence of the communistic element did not augur well for the national growth of the State. Mr Bavin will have a difficult task to fill, in that Eis policy proposed to undo certain of the acts of the Lang Government, and he has «ven suggested invading the

municipal government of the Labor Council directing the welfare of the City of Sydney This will be something of a new departure, but Air Bavin lias made the duty a plank of his platform, and lie appears to be strong enough to give his policy political effect. Air Lang has pursued a very definite line of policy, and been jealous of any interference by the Commonwealth Government. There is reason and need for better relations between the State and the Commonwealth, and there will now'be opportunity for the I two to work closer together. Australia is a much governed country with its Commonwealth system and State governments, and the time is surely overdue for a review of the constitution to bring about desirable economic reforms which are possible in that direction. New South Wales could give a useful lead in that respect, and it remains to be_seen how far Mr Bavin’s policy will go in that direction.