NOT INTERESTED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 159, 27 February 1932, Page 5

NOT INTERESTED

(Press. Assn.-

MR. LANG DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICAN JUDGE SWINDELL CRITICS ARE PROPAGANDISTS

— By Telegranh — ConvrlsrhtV

Rec. Feb. 26, 8.20 p.m. SYDNEY, Friday. In the Legislative Assembly today, the Premier, Mr". J. T. Lang, replied to critics concerning his official connection with tin hare interests. He declared that he did not know and had never seen or spoken to Judge Swindell, and if that gentleman visited the Premier's Department it was without his knowledge. Mr. Lang contended that sections of Press executives which were interested in tin hare shares were responsble for propaganda against the Government, because licenses for tin hare courses had not been granted to their particular venture. Mr. Lang described them as "bucket shop newspaper executives, who with certain members of the Opposition Party haunt such places as Tattersall's Club."

He went on to say there was a fund in Sydney to which the Australian Jockey Club and other proprietary interests subscribed to have tin hare racing banned. It was a secret fund for the purpose of bribing members of the Labour Party, but to their eternal credit it was still laying idle. If a Royal Commission were. granted would it inquire into the origin of this fund; or might it not, with advantage, inquire into the origin of the fund built up by banks and insurance companies last election to fight the Labour Party. Mr. Lang added that he saw no reason for the inquiry, unless perhaps members of the Opposition were prepared to make definite charges of corruption instead of relying on interested Press propaganda.