FEDERAL LABOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1933, Page 6

FEDERAL LABOUR

'4--, y": PROGRESS OF PRESENT FIGHT

THE AMBITIONS OF MR LANG

SYDNEY, July 15,

i All hope of unity among the warring factions of the Labour Party in Australia has vanished, for the time being at least,’and the fight threatens to become more bitter than ever. The Unity proposals of the Federal Australian Labour Party were directed mainly at the State Labour Party in New South Wale's, which, under the leadership of Mr Lang, has elected to remain aloof from the main body. An olive branch was offered t 0 the Lang Party by the All-Australian conference, but was refused. Briefly, it was ah intimation that the Federal Conference would lift the expulsion of the. Lang Party if the party recognised the Federal body as supreme. Without consulting the party, the Inner Executive in Sydney rejected the terms, and that, action did net cause any surprise. Those who know Mr Lang know of his ambitions for Federal leadership. He will not be content with Jess, so it is unlikely that he would join a body led by Mr Scullin. The position now is that the same number of factions exist in New South Wales as was the case before the unity conference. These are the Federal Labour Party, the Lang Labour Party (in control), the units, and the miners. Even while unity negotiations were going .on the Lang Party leaders continued to expel members,; the latest victims being Messrs. J. Sweeny, president of the University Labour Club, and H. Melrose, president of the Barton Electoral Council, •who assisted Mr A. C. Willis in the Bulli by-election against the official Lang Party, candidate. The Federal Labour Party will continue to function in New .South Wales even though it has lost most of its followers, and the Lang Party will .carry .the fight to other States.

HARD EIGHT FDR MR LANG In. .going further afield the Lang Party will have .to fight hard for success,, for Mr Lang is not, .popular outside New South Wales, and in this State his popularity is confined to the true-blue Labourites only—those, who Would make him director and follow him blindly, even though he chose the road to destruction. It is clear that Mr Lang can expect little success in •Queensland, where the Labour Premier, Mr Forgan Smith, is well entrenched, Mr Eorgan Smith is .even spoken of as the next Labour leader in the Federal sphere. There are some who thought that if he displaced Mr Scullin, Labour unity might he assured, but it-is not likely that 'Mr Lang would, .agree to ‘follow anyone but himself. The Lang party will most likely, concentrate-on Victoria and South Australia, where it has already succeeded ip .dividing the Labour forces —to what , benefit •is not clear.

It.is still die intention .that Mr Lang should .enter Federal polities at the next election. There will be no difficulty in finding him a safe Sydney seat. It. is Iroped -that, with the following he .will secure in Victoria ‘and South Australia, Mr Lang will have more followers in the House of Eepresentatives than Mr Scullin, or whoever may then be the leader .of the Federal Labour Party. As yet, Tasmania and Western. Australia have received little from the Lang Party, and there may be very good reason for that. Each State has shown a dislike for extremism, and extremism and Lang go hand in hand.

AIMS OF MR A C. WILLIS The most interesting figure in the faction fight in New South Wales is Mr Willis,. who unsuccessfully opposed the “machine” in the Bulli election. He is endeavouring to regain for the miners the control of the official organ ‘ of the Lang Labour Party, the Labour Daily. What , his plans are have not been announced, but he has expressed •confidence of ultimate success. If success should come his way it would be the greatest blow the Lang Party has' received, and a blow, also, to Mr Lang personally, for he lias a considerable sum invested in the concern and is' able to -dictate its policy. Meanwhile the Socialisation forces intend to carry .on the fight to secure the control in place of,the Inner Group, and will .press for the calling of a special conference.