Victorian Cabinet Reshuffle Postponed

Chronicle (Levin), 4 December 1948, Page 5

Victorian Cabinet Reshuffle Postponed

Reeeived Fridav, 11.24 p.m. MELBOURNE, Dec. 3. A temporary Liberal Party Ministry was set up today by Mr. Hoihvay. while negotiations contimie between tlie Liberal and Country Party leaders. Six members of the " Hollway-McDonald Coalition were sworn in today and will handle all the portfolios until Mondav when the full Cabinet will be announeed. Mr. Hollway said he would still leave the way open for the formation of a Liberal-Country Party Coalition as long as it did not inelude Sir Albert Dunstan. If the offer is not accepted the full Cabinet would be announced on Mondav night. Earlier messages stated that a meeting of Liberal Ministers lasting until the garly morning failed to form a new Stat'e Cabinet. . The Premir (Mr. Hollway), who, after tendering the Ministry 's resignation to the State Governor, Sir Winston Dugan, is trying to form a new Government of his own choosing, has extended invitations to the five men who, with Sir Albert Dunstan, I'ormetiL thq Country Party section of the Coalition Cabinet. He did not ask Sir Albert Drmotan. At midnight four of them had rejected the invitation, but he liad not reeeived a reply from Mr. Lienhop, formofly Arinister of Mines. The Liberals still hope that, if he elects to join tlie new Ministry, the other Country Party members will follow.

Mr. Hollway says he is not pz'epared ; to hawk the portfolios, but is anxious .to know the wishes of the Country Party in the matter of a stable Government. The Liberqis are leaving it to Mr. Hollway to deeide whether it will be solely a Liberal Cabinet or will inelude Country Party- men other than Sir Albert Dunstan. The possibility of au early State general election is belieyed. to be remote. It is thought that Labour will assist the new Liberal Government to get supply for at least three months. In neither House will the Liberals be able to govern tvitfyout the support ot another party. In Canberra the Federal Liberal and Country Party members express fear that the bitterness engendered by the Victorian crisis may make full cooperation between the two parties impossfble at next year's Federal elections. The Deputy-Leader of the Country Party (Mr. J. MeEwen) bitterly at* tacked Mr. Hollway and the Victorian Liberals and charged liim with acting in eollusion with Labour to defeat the Country Party in Victoria.