LANG AS DICTATOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 April 1927, Page 1

LANG AS DICTATOR

LABOUR’S DECISION N.S.W. MILITANTS FISTS FLY AT CONFERENCE By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright SYDNEY, Sunday. The conference of the Australian Labour Party, which was convened by Mr. Seale, has been opened. The conference suspended from office for three years Mr. Conroy, who was elected President by the Executive of the Australian Labour Party. Mr. Carey, the general secretary, and Mr. Gibbs, the assistant secretary, and other members of the majority section. The Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, in an address to the conference, said one of the principal planks in the Government’s platform at the next election would be the abolition of the Legislative Council. The militant section captured most of the official positions in the conference. Mr. Lang was instructed to reconstruct his Cabinet and was given die tutorial powers. The Ministers to be sacrificed are the Minister of Public Instruction, Mr. T. D. Mutch: the Minister of Local Government, Mr. J. J. Fitzgerald: the Minister of Works and Railways, Mr M. M. Flannery: and the Honorary Minister, Mr. J. F. Coates. Mr. Lang was also instructed that he must face the electors before he meets Parliament. He will probably ask ti e Governor, Sir Dudley de Chair, to grant a dissolution in August or September. The conference expelled Messrs. V. W. E. Goodwin. R. T. Gillies, M.L.A.’s, and Mr. P. F. Loughlin, formerly Minister of Lands, from the Labour movement. This step may influence the Governor to send for the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. R. Bavin, before he grants a dissolution. In any case an early election is certain. The Industrialists think that a rush election will favour Mr. Lang. During a discussion on the question whether the conference should adopt the “Red” rules there were several bouts of fisticuffs between the delegates. The conference was adjourned without coming to a decision. —A. and N.Z.