MR. LANG'S FUTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 421, 4 January 1933, Page 5

MR. LANG'S FUTURE

(Press. Assn.—

LEADER OF FEDERAL LABOUR EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS INFLUENCE~OF "REDS"

-By Telegraph — Copynghth

Auckland, Tuesday. A glimpse behind tbe scenes of Australian politics and the activities of Mr. J. T. Lang was given by the Hon. J. F. Coates, Leader of the Federal Labour party in the New South Wales Parliament, who arrived from Sydney by the Zealandia this morning, on a short health trip. "We have been through three years of strenuous Parliamentary life," said Mr. Coates. "That period has been broken only by an election. One session sat for over twelve months, whicb is unprecedented in the history of Australian politics." There was a general feeling that tbe prospects of the Federal Labour Party for the ne.xt election were excellent, said Mr. Coates. There had been much eriticism of tbe Federal and State Governments, but the workers had at last appreciated the conditions which Lang and Beasley had left behind them. Mr. Lang liad been flirting with the Socialist section of his own party, which consisted of "near" Communists and real Communists-. Out of Control "This section has now got out of control, and at their next conference I expect to see the Lang party controlled by extremists," remarked Mr. Coates. "In creating this socialisation committee Mr. Lang has brought into being a Frankenstein monster that has almost killed liim politically. At the next election Mr. Lang will contest with Mr. Percy Coleman, and I believo that Mr. Coleman will beat liim. Apparently Mr. Lang bas similar fears, because he has made certain arrangements with the sitting member, Mr. Gander. After the shoek he got at the last State elections, Mr. Lang will not be prepared to take the risk of fighting Mr. Coleman." Mr. Coates said that recently a determined attempt had been made by many of Mr. Lang's agents to have him reeognised as the Federal Labour leader in Australia, but they found when the Australian Congress of Trades Unions met in Melbourne, that not more than half a dozen of the large number present would have anything to do with Mr. Lang. The attempt to thrust Mr. Lang on the Australian movement proved to be a horrible failure. "People are now recognising the wonderful work the Scullin Government did in rectifying an adverse trade balance of 42 millions, so that we have 40 millions excess of imports," concluded Mr. Coates. "They also recognise his action at the Premiers' Conference in having all' interest rates, bonds and other securities reduced by 22i per cent. That alone rneant U difference of 84 millions in twelve months. This extraordinary result is not lilcely to be f orgotten by the people. of Australia."