DRAMATIC MOVE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 21 January 1931, Page 5

DRAMATIC MOVE

BY MR LANG MOTION OF CENSURE ON EX-PREMIER (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, 21st January. There was an unprecedented and dramatic move by the Premier, Mr Lang, at the Legislative Assembly reopening this afternoon, when he moved •! motion of censure on the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bavin, and the former Treasurer, Mr Stevens, declaring that they had made unwarrantable, untruthful, and disloyal statements calculated to injure the credit of the State. Mr Lang’s attack is based on statements made at the last election campaign. He alleges that Messrs Bavin and Stevens and certain Nationalist candidates, with Mr Bavin’s approval, led the electors to believe that if Labour was returned the people’s savings would be filched by a labour .Ministry from the Government savings bank. Mr Lang pointed out that as a result of these suggestions and rumours of a. similar character there had been substantial withdrawals by depositors, and the commissioners of the bank had written to him expressing deep concern in regard to the ultimate possibilities. Air Bavin interjected : “I presume you will follow this up with a motion for our expulsion. Anyhow, I invite it.” Opposition members shouted derisively to Air Lang—“ Who are you? Off with their heads !”

Mr Bavin, replying to Air Lang’s motion, described it as the product of a lunatic asylum, and although it was such there was not the slightest doubt that Mr Lang’s party would carry it. Mr Bavin wondered whether Air Lang was quite safe to govern this beautiful country. An interjector asked : “What do you mean?” Mr Bavin replied: “I mean he is not quite safe to be at the head of affairs of tin's State. Only yesterday one newspaper had to brand him as a liar as the result of his denial that he had not sought financial aid from the Loan Council. It is quite obvious the Premier now desires to cover up his tracks by asking Parliament to carry this motion, which would make it the laughing stock of Australia.” Mr Bavin challenged Air Lairg or any member of his party to find one word in Mr Bavin’s election speeches which was calculated to cause alarm among depositors of the savings bank. Mr Stevens deplored that time should be wasted over such a childish motion. He said that during the election speeches were made by certain Labourites which did infinitely more harm to the credit of Australia than anything said about the Government .savings bank. The motion was carried on a strictly party division. Mr Bavin afterwards sought the suspension of Standing Orders to move a motion censuring the Premier for having denied on 19th December that lie had applied to the Loan Council for financial assistance. Air Bavin explained that the press had published correspondence revealing that Air Langs statement was false. ’lhe assembly should therefore record its condemnation of his action in misleading the House. . . The motion for suspension ot Uio Standing Orders was defeated on a party division and the censure motion lapsed.