NEW SOUTH WALES CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1926, Page 11

NEW SOUTH WALES CRISIS

MR. LOUGHLIN’S ULTIMATUM THE PREMIER MUST RESIGN. MAY BE EARLY ELECTION. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Nov. 21, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 21. Serious developments are expected in the Legislative Assembly. The Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, emerged victorious from the first clash of arms with Mr. Loughlin, managing to stave off the ultimate issue until Monday. When the Assembly met, there was a full House. Both parties recognised it was a game of tactics, and that the Government, after yesterday’s developments, had been making so desperate a bid to continue in office that it had been suggested that Mr. Dooley vacate the Speakership in order that a member of the Opposition might be appointed, thus strengthening the Ministerialists numerically. The Premier took early steps to forstall any move by the Opposition, and moved that the House adjourn till Monday. This motion was agreed to, Mr. Loughlin voting with the Government on a purely party division. Mr. Loughlin, in explanation of his vote, said he would give Mr. Lang the opportunity to put an end to the outside dictatorship of Parliament by people foreign to Australia and to Australian sentiment. This was his reason for agreeing to an adjournment until Monday, and if Mr. Lang does not give an undertaking that these conditions will be carried out, Mr. Loughlin, with his followers, will cross the floor of the House and thus bring about the defeat of the Government. It is stated in the lobbies that the main condition on which Mr. Loughlin and his followers would support the present Government is that Mr. Lang resign from the Premiership. Otherwise they will eject the Goverment and enable a Ministry under the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bavin, to*obtain temporary supply preparatory to going, to the country. It is generally conceded that the defeat of the Ministry when the House meets on Monday is inevitable. A special meeting of the executive oi the Australian Labour Party discussed the position arising from the resignation of Mr. Loughlin and reported the defection of Messrs Goodin and Gillies.

Mr. Tong urged the executive not to waste time with Mr. Loughlin, who should be regarded as having severed his connection with the party, but try to prevent further defections on the part of Labour members.

Mr. Lang added that he could not assign any reason for Mr. Loughlin’s resignation," He understood Mr? Loughlin laid down conditions for rejoining the party that Messrs Lang and Willis resign from the Ministry and that the Budget speech be repudiated. These were impossible to grant. It was a bad time for the Labour Party and it looked certain that Labour would go out of power when the Government met the House, even with the vote of Mr. Skelton, the Independent Labour member. The voting strength of the parties would be equal and he would have to ask the Government for a dissolution. He believed if he went to the country Labour would secure at least 47 seats. A committee of six was then appointed to wait on Messrs Goodin and Gillies to endeavour to prevent them from leaving the party. A special caucus then met, whereat Mr. Lang definitely refused to resign the leadership of tlte party. All efforts to arrive at a settlement Were apparently futile, and the caucus was still sitting at a late hour.