N.S.W. STATE ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1930, Page 6

N.S.W. STATE ELECTION

, COMMENT IN AUCKLAND. “Labour’s victory hr New South Wales was not unexpected,” said an exAustralian business man now residing in Auckland. “The desperate straits of so niany electors, owing to unemployment, was a fortuitous discipline that gave' Labour a tremendous advantage over , the two fused parties—Nationalist and Country party. For the first time since the days of Mr McGowan potential Labour votes were cast solidly foi Labour candidates..

“The decisive factor in the return of : Mr jjiting to power was the swih'gHover of the small farmer. By tens of thousands the farmers in country electorat-es—-Albury, Orange, Waratah, Castlereagh, Dubbs and Young—have voted Labour.

“During his term as Premier, Mr Lang (as well as every other Labour Minister) will hold himself * responsible to the irresponsible junta at Trades Ball, led by the notorious Jock Garden If the established Labour precedent Is to be followed, Mr Lang must attend the meetings called by that junta at Trades Hall to explain why he has not ’ carried out their instructions. Yet New South Wales electors have returned Mr Lang to power. This 'fact is more eloquent of despair thart hope. It is a 'significant ’fact, one that "may'well be considered by members of our Dominion Parliament, .Wheji conditions of living 'oecftme very hard","electors are prone to take desperate risks. The New South •Wales' farmers have taken such a risk desperately hoping that Lang will redeein his promises—one of which is to secure a readjustment of interest on war debts, with a constant relief from heavy Federal taxation. These farmers smart “under' a feeling of injustice, since they know thate other States of the Empire secured better prices for wheat and wool during the "War years than Australian farmers were allowd by the then Prime; Minister, Mr W. H. Hughes. MR LANG’S BAD TEMPER. “There is one hope, politically, for New South Wales during the next three years. It lies in Mr Lang’s well-known bad temper. He is not the, type, of man who likes being pushed, nor does he forget being kicked;.; During his last term of office, Having only a majority of two votes (secured in a politically disreputable way), Mr Lang had to dance attendance on the Trades Hall junta, smilingly .. explain when explanations vvefe demanded, and humbly promise to .hurry up:,Now Mr Lang has a majority 'of ten or more votes" in Parliament; and

Mr Langls. absence, from the hilarious 'crowds that cheered election results at the Trades Hall on Saturday night may have a. healthy significance. If there is anything of hope in this it will show itself in the personnel of the new Ministry. The exclusion of Messrs Lysaght, Willis, McGirr, Baddeley and Lamaro would indicate that. Mr Lang is out to rule, instead of being ruled by the Trades Hall.” EFFECT .ON SECURITIES. “The result of the New South Wales 'eleetion is bound, to have a weakening effect on Australia stocks,!’ stated Mr G. C. Creagh chairman of the Auckland Stock Exchange. “It is difficult to say air the moment exactly what will happen. lit' the meantime . there is bound to be. a fall in values., but this may only lie temporary. Of course,.a great many, people in the Commonwealth are feeling the pinch at the present time. It was generally thought that the sane Labour people would throw in their lot with tlie . Bavin party and turn the tide against Mr Larig. , “I must say,” continued Mr Creagh /‘that lam surprised at the result With many others, I believed that Labour would not be returned. I did not think that the intelligent worker

would be carried away with the wild and extravagant statements made by Mr Lang. Of course, he is only one man, but others might alter their views <pow and take..the election results as art expression -by the people that they favour repudiation and all sorts of things like thiit. . ' “NOT BUSHRANGERS!” “It would seem, according to some of the accounts that have appeared in the newspapers, that the members of tfr Labour party in New 'South Wales are so many bushrangers, but the election shows that the people, do not think SO.”’ ' • • y • -

This comment was made by Mr M. J. Savage, M.P., deputy-chairman of the Parliamentary Labour party. He expressed pleasure at the result, which, he .said, was a complete reply to the opponents of Labour. He would be greatly surprised if the new Government did not do something worth while. “Mr Lang is not a windbag,” said Mr Savage. “He is one of the most capable men in Australia, and a man who will think hard before attempting to do anything.” Mr Savage said he had a personal 'knowledge of the new Premier whom he had met in Australia in 1926 when the British Empire .delegation had visited the Commonwealth. The Marquis of Salisbury was chairman, and Mr Arthur Henderson now British Foreign Secretary, was vice-chairman. “I do not know that Mr Lang has Bifid anything about repudiation,’ said Mr Savage, in reply to a question. “1 feel sure be could not say more than is reported this morning: ‘Australa will stand. up to all her • obligations—not some of them.’ Repudiation will not get a party anywhere ,but one thing is quite clear to me, that Australia, and New Zealand, too, must do something with the financial world if the present difficultie.s are to be left behind.” ,