The Game-Lang Crisis

Abstract

The events that led to the Game-Lang crisis began when Jack Lang was elected Labor Premier of New South Wales with a big majority in October 1930. I was then sixteen and in fourth year at high school. Problems presently arose over payment of interest on British loans, and a substantial difference of opinion on the subject developed between New South Wales and the Australian Commonwealth. Legislation of the New South Wales Government was rejected in the Upper House and the Government in the first half of 1931 asked for additional appointments to the Upper House, which was at that time an appointed House, but this was at first rejected by the Governor. Further conflict occurred and on 20 November 1931 the Governor appointed to the Council twenty-five Labor nominees (although this was not, according to Evatt’s account of it, sufficient to secure the passage of all Government legislation).