MR LANG’S AMBITION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1932, Page 6

MR LANG’S AMBITION

FEDERAL LEADERSHIP,

CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT.

SYDNEY, December 18,

There has been a most interesting development, in the ranks of the New South Wales Labour Party—a development threatening even the ambitions cf the former Labour Premier, Mr J. T. Lang. Slowly and surely the socialisation group lias been endeavouring to secure control of the party machine, and its greatest success has cc-me with the election of many of its followers to the executive. It is practically certain that the Garden-Grave fat-lion, winch has so long held control and has willingly .acted at the behest of Mr Lang, will be in a minority.

As the socialisation group has definitely rejected the Lang Plan in favour of straight-out. socialism, the position of Mr Lang himself is in danger, and it is likely that his entry into Federal politics will be hastened. It is known that Mr Lang realises that Until lie lias control of the Federal Government lie has little chance of bringing into operation any of his wild schemes. It would be a sorry day for Australia if ever lie became Prime Minister, but that is his aim. Mr Lang is the virtual leader of what is known as the inner group of that State Labour ffyrty in New South Wales, and it is significant that at the ballots held # last week all candidates nominated by the group were defeated. This was brought about by tliu amalgamation of the socialisation units and the communist bodies, particularly the. United Front of the Employed and the Unemployed. The executive consists of 31 members, including the president and two vicepresidents, wno are elected at the annual conference. The socialisation unit expects to win three out of four ballots, now being held in the metropolitan area, and if it does so it will have command of the executive..

The aim of the .Socialists will now be to secure control cf the annual conference next Easter, and there is likely to be u, great deal of intrigue between now and the date of the conference. These Labourt .politicians seem to be expert tacticians, and when they fight among themselves they are even more so. They will endeavour to secure the election of their nominee as president, and if they succeed in this. they will he üble to shape actions and policies to their liking. There will be no willing surrender by the group now in power, and the battle for authority will be fought to the -bitter ,end, much of it away from the public gaze. At the moment Mr A. C. Willis, who way appointed High Commissioner by the Lang Government and was recalled by the Stevens Government, seems most likely to become the leader of the socialism forces in the New South "Wales. Labour Party. It is unlikely that any announcement in this direction will be made before the actual retirement of Mr Lang.