“Lang Government Cannot Lose”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 147, 12 September 1927, Page 13

“Lang Government Cannot Lose”

MINISTER’S DECLARATION “With such a record of achievements behind it I do not see how the Government can possibly fail to win the election,” declared the Hon. J. M. Baddeley, Labour and Mines Minister for New South Wales, on arrival in Auckland to-day by the N iagara. The Minister, who was accompanied by Mrs. Baddeley, is returnig after a visit to Europe and America, where he went to investigate the latest developments in the coalmining industry. Mr. Baddeley, who has been one of Mr. Lang’s strongest stalwarts, intimated by cable from England that he would remain in the Cabinet when the ervolt led by the Mutch faction took place. Consequently he is returning to Sydney a Minister of the Crown, and an endorsed candidate for his seat at Cessnock, on the Maitland coalfields. Though he had not been in touch with political developments in Australia, said Mr. Baddeley, he felt certain that the Lang Government would be returned to office. The Minister is returning enthusiastic regarding a geo-physical instrument which Mr. A. E. Andrews, N.S.W. Government Geologist, is investigating in the United States. This device, says Mr. Baddeley, enables experts to detect oils and minerals beneath the surface, and he believes that it will be of the greatest value in his own country. “I have come to the conclusion,” said the Minister, “that the worker in New South Wales is better off than in any other part of the world.” He declined to discuss conditions abroad, except to remark that Italy was undoubtedly being governed by the militarists. “One could not come to any other conclusion after seeing the country,” he added. Mr. Baddeley, who was accompanied by Mr. J. P. Hindmarsh, chief inspector of mines in New South Wales, and Mr. F. W. Hynes, private secretary, was met at Auckland by Mr. F. W. Kitching, Under-Secretary for Labour, and Mr. J. McDermott, another officer of that department.