Lang Ministry Dismissed

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1932, Page 5

Lang Ministry Dismissed

REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW CIRCULAR

ACTION BY STATE GOVERNOR

OPPOSITION TO FORM A NEW MINISTRY

fAustralian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, May 13. Tho State Governor lias dismissed the Lang Government. His Excellency will appoint an Advisory Council immediately, pending an arrangement- for a dissolution ol the State Assembly.

AGAINST TAXATION BILL

SYDNEY, May 13

A climax occurred when the Governnor, Sir Phillip Game, wrote to Mr Lang, expressing his disapproval cf the Premier’s action circularising the heads of the Government Departments, directing them, in effect, to disobey tlie Commonwealth Government’s proclamation for the attachment of the State’s moneys, and to pay all such moneys into the State Treasury. His Excellency emphasised that such tvtts an illegal action cn the part of the State, Government, and that it could not be tolerated.

The letter of the Governor reached the Premier yesterday, ’ and a rep’y was demanded by 11 a.m. tc-day. The Premier replied that, in no circumstances, would the circular be withdrawn. Mr Lanrr ]iad two personal interviews with His Excellency this afternoon,. and then, just before six p.m there came the official, announcement that the Governor had decided to dismiss the .Government from office. After recalling Mr Lang’s commission, the Governor sent for the Leader of the Opposition, Mr B. 5..8. Stevens, and appointed him Premier of New South Wales. He requested Mr Stevens to form a dissolution.

FINANCIAL EMERGENCY BILL. CONDEMNED BY APR LYONS.

CANBERRA, May 13

Mr Stevens will thus go to the country as the Premier of the State, and Leader of the Government and of the United Australia -Party. The news that the Governor had dismissed the Government short'y before 6 p.m., spread throughout the city like wildfire. The broadcast stations delivered the sensational, yet not altogether unexpected news to the countrv folk.

AGENT-GENERAL RETURNING

There were scenes in the city demonstrative and thrilling, and bursts nf cheering were heard in large offices and stores. Business men shouted to one another excitedly: “Lang’s out! Lang’s out!” and shook hands. They held m> the heavy home-going traffic with their discussions alld their hilarity aild exuberance.

LONDON, May 13.

; It is understod that Hon. Mr Willis (the N.S.W. Agent-General) is rtturnirtg to Sydney from Loudon immediately iii consequence of the Lang Ministry’s dismissal;

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUTCOME

MORTGAGE TAXATION BILL

SAYS ATTORNEY GENERAL,

(Received this dnv at 9,'A*) n.nri

RUSHED THROUGH HURRIEDLY.

LONDON, May 13.

The Governor’s action gives tne people of New South Wales the, opportunity of passing judgment upon Dang’s extraordinary legislation administration. “I look forward confidently to the outcome,” said the Commonwealth Attorney General, Mr Latham, when the Australian Press Association conveyed' the news of Mr Lang’s dismissal. He added: “His legislation has all keen in the direction of oligarchy and tyranny, designed to promote an autocratic rule by a .small section of his supporters whom he had to placate to keep in hand at all costs. Mr Lang will doubtless raise, the cry that the Governor interfered with a Democratic Government. Actually the Governor’s action in dismissing him on account of his defiance of the Commonwealth law, illustrates the value of the prerogative in'the case of an autocratic Government which has striven to make itself independent of the people.” A “Sun” message states that the Governor, Sir Philip Game, having the. full confidence of the British Government, acted on his own initiative, absolutely and constitutionally, without consultation with Downing Street. Mr J. H. Thomas describes the news of Mr Lang’s dismissal as very interesting. He had no comment to make.

CANBERRA, May 13

Complete powers to nullify the New South Wale Goverment-’s Mortgage Taxaton Bil] aie contained in a Feeloral Government measure, entitled “The Financial Emergency State Legislation Bill,” which was rushed through all stages in the Federal House of Representatives to-day. The voting on the Bill was 45 for and 10 against. The majority comprised the Lang faction and a few or the Federal Labourites.

Tile Bill provides that no mortgage shall be charged with any tax or impost greater than could have been charged under the laws of New Sooth . Wales that were in force on .April 30th last.

The Bill also precludes the imposition of any penalty by the State law for the non-payment of any tax upon an vmortgago or upon any principal thus secured.

STATE LEGISLATION BILL

PASSED BY THE SENATE

CANBERRA, May 13

The Senate passed the, Financial Emergency State Legislation Bill this afternoon.

Sir George Pearce, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, declared that Mr Lang’s Mortgage Tax Bill would absolutely ruin the financial structure upon which rested the savings o" the people. He said that the mortgages held hv the hanks totalled approximately seventy-two millions, those held by trustee companies twelve millions, those held by the trading companies twelve millions, and I hose held b.v private individuals ten millions. The ten per cent, tax proposed on this total would, lie added, yield not seven millions, but fcuiteen million pounds.

EFFECT ON STOCK EXCHMNGE

AUSTRALIAN SHARES ADVANCE

(Reoeb 3d this dnv at 10. In a.m.) LONDON, May It).

No official comment is obtainable at tlio. Dominions Office, but the Australian Press Association has the best 'authority for saying that highly-placed officials hold the opinion that Sir Philip Game, throughout, acted perfectly constitutionally in accordance with tiie powers of his position. Furthemore, he enjoys the full confidence of the British Government.

THE GOVERNOR’S DEMAND

Those opinions emphasise the confident assurance that there was no t-on.suliUti'on with Whitehall prior to Mr LnngV, dismissal. Sir - Philip (• line’s action came rs a welcome (surprise to financial circles. The dispheemnt < F Mr Lang Tins an immediaio effect on Hie slock exchange as AiistrnTans advance'!' all round. Commonwealth fives by two pounds, and ‘iiiiic New South Wales five

FOR WITH DR.UVAL OF CIRCULAR.

SYDXKY. May 13. ft i** repo-ted that tli'' Governor (if IS’ew Smith Wales, Sir Phillip flame, to-day dema-ded the withdrawal (I the Minister.! d circular t/> the Departmental heads orderin'! them not to comply with the Federal law in connection with t.h • “flarnishec’’ Act. The Premier. Mr Lang, refused to withdraw the circular. ft is understood that Mr Lane is now coins! to Government. House t'>

pounds. Mr Willis, the Ifigli C.nimdissionor for NiViv South Wales, has not been offieiallv advised of Ids Mini~lry s dismissal, and eonser|iiently declines to tender his resignation. I issue any statement.

PETITION TO* THE GOVERNOR.

1 To-day there was a petition handed to the Governor, Sir P. Game, on behalf of British morgagees, asking that His Excellency’s assent to t:.e Mortgage Taxation Bill should be withheld.

Large wool broking y firms, which have enormous sums of English capital lent on station properties, and also leading British manufacturing companies, were inticli perturbed by the Bill.

The Governor promised to give full Consideration to their petition. The Federal Minister worked late oil legislation that is to be submitted to the Federal House to-day to override Mr Lang’s Morgage Tax, Mr Lyons, the Prime Minister, says tl'c Mortgage Tax will be killed today.

During the second reading debate o‘ the Financial Emergency Bill, the Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, explained that prompt and drastic action was imperative in order to allay the panic of the people. Mr Lang’s Bill, he said, amounted to a raid on the people’s savings, not only in New South Wales, but in other States -and in other countries. It was aimed at a swift destructoin of social institutions. Mr Lang’s legislation was generally retarding a recovery and was ■ multiplying destitution in the Commonwealth. He felt that they must step in in order to save Australia.

Mr Berridale Keith, when interviewed, ex pressed the opinion that Sir Philip Game’® action was quite and fairly justified.

MR STEVENS SWORN IN

WHO WILL HIS CABINET BE?

SYDNEY, May 14

Mr Stevens was sworn in as Premier, and has asked the Governor for time in which to choose his Cabinet. It i.s probable that the new Ministry, which may include members of the Country Party, will be sworn in on Monday. Parliament will probably not meet again until after the elections, as the Governor might prorogue Parliament, whicji in ordinary circumstances would have met on Tuesday, to some later date. Parliament could then be dissolved. Until this were done the date of the election could not be fixed.

It is regarded as certain However that Mr Stevens’ Ministry will endeavour to bring about a general electioi: at tlig earliest possible moment.

COMMENT BY STATE PREMIERS.

GENERAL RELIEF EXPRESSED

SYDNEY, May 14

Mr BrUxiier, Leader of the United Party, comments: “I Welcome the news that tiic Governor has recalled Mr Lang’s commission. The people of New South Wales will now he given tile opportunity of ridding themselves of the disgraceful management, to which they have been subjected,” Dr. Earle Page, Leader of the Federal United Country Party says that he is glad that, at last, Now South Wales will have the opportunity of expressing its opinion of the extraordinary outrageous acts of Mr Lang. “I have not the slightest doubt what the result will be.”

Tbo Premier of Queensland. Mr Moore, said: “It is one o! - the g 1 eatest godsends that could happen to Australia. It is a great thing for the country that My Lang’s wild career has come to an end.”

The Premier of South Australia. Mr Hill, stated that the thought uppermost in his mind was not so much the relief at Mr Lang’s removal as the gigantic nature of the task which will confront Mr Stevens in making a beginning in the restoration of New South Wales.

Mr ,Tunnecliffe. acting Premier o' Victoria, declined to make any comment.

ENTHUSIASM IN SYDNEY

LANG SAYS “I’M A FREE MAN.”

SYDNEY, May 14

Jubilation throughout the city at the Lang Government fall, spread to the cafes where the diners chanted -Happy days are here again,” and beattime with knives and forks, while hats were -thrown into the air;

Specials of the evening newspapers on the streets, in 'Gold placards, proclaimed the end of the Ministry, The scene at she Trades Hall was of the gloomiest, and stark tragedy was the Keynote of the comment. Prominent Labourites do not hesitate to predict that Mr Lang will receive a renewal of confidence at the forthcoming election. Mr Coates, leader of the Federal Labour group, which is mainly oppo'ed to the Lang faction in the Upper House, said that Mr Lang had wrecked every Government wherewith he had been associated, the Storey-Dooley Government, his own Government of 1925, and now another, whereof he was the leader, and had driven from the Labour movement some of the most earnest men it ever had. It was not unlikely that his actions would have repercussion on the Victorian and Queensland elections.

It is expected that Parliament will lie called together on Tuesday, when Mr Stevens will fornn’ly -announce that he has been commissioned to form a ministry, while Mr Lang will announce that his commission has been withdrawn. Parliament will be immediately prorogued, and writs issued for an election which will probably be fixed for June' 11.

Jt was stated .to-night that the Governor had not given his assent to the Mortgage Taxation Bill, and wheVier he will c'o so is a matter for conjecture.

Beyond exclaiming to pressmen “I’m sacked. I have been ■dismissed from office,” the Premier refused to make anv comment. He donned his overcoat and added "I have done my duty, and am a free man.” He left, his office for unknown parts, and his ministers are unaware of his whereabout-.

The Governor’s action in exercising i:« prerrogative in dismissing the Government i.s unique in the history of constitutional Government in Australia.