N.S.W. CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1930, Page 6

N.S.W. CRISIS

OVER UPPER HOUSE.

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, December 2,

The Premier of New South Wales, Mr Lang, had an interview with the State Governor, Sir Philip Game, today concerning additional appointments to the Legislative Council. A deadlock resulted.

Mr Lang then hurried back. He immediately moved the adjournment of the Legislative Assembly, ref us fug, to give any reason, beyond saying that a matter of high public importance was involved.

Members of the Assembly immediately scented a political crisis. They bombarded the Premier with questions.

The adjournment was agreed to, on a strictly party division. The press expresses the opinion that Mr Lang’s request for the' new appointments to the Upper House have been either flatly refused ) or have bee# held in obevance. It is expected that Mr Lang will take the matter up again with His Excellency. The House rose till to-morrow.

GOVERNOR’S ATTITUDE.

SYDNEY, December 2.

Regarding the N.S.W. Legislative Council crisis, it is understood that Premier Lang asked the Governor to agree to forty additional appointments to the Upper House. The Premier’s request was refused. His Excellency took the stand that no reasonable, argument had been submitted in support of the Premier’s contention that the Government’s policy measures were threatened in that Chamber, and that, until such an eventuality occurred, His Excellency was unable constitutionally, or reasonably, to accede to so many appointments.

The Cabinet discussed the position for two hours this afternoon.

The Premier has declined to make any statements for publication.

The position which now confronts Mr Lang’s Ministry is almost identical with what occurred in the year 1925, when, after considerable- negotiation, the then Governor, Sir Dudley De Chair, agreed to the appointment of twenty-five new Members of the Legislature, which number was sufficient to enable the Council to be swamped. However, a number of these new appointees did not attend when the vital division upon the abolition of the Council was taken, and the then Lang Government’s objective failed. SYDNEY, December 2.

In the Legislative Council two bills relating to the abolition of tliat Chamber were read a first time on the voices. The second readings take place to-morrow. One of the foregoing is designed to repeal the Bavin Government Act which stipulated that the Upper House shall not be abolished until a referendum of the electors is taken. Everything hinges on the fate of these two bills. In the event of the Council throwing them out or shelving them. Mr Lang intends to 1 appeal to the Home authorities to recall the Governor, throwing on him the responsibility of the Government’s failure to give effect to its Legislature Policy.

When the debate on the address-in-replv in the Assembly is finished no further business will he brought forward pending the outcome of the Upper House impasse.