MOVE FORESEEN

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1929, Page 11

MOVE FORESEEN

OUTLOOK IN AUSTRALIA'

NATIONALISTS CRUMBLING

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 21st November.

It has been plainly evident this week that the bitterness created among the members of the Nationalist Party during the last election campaign, ■which, ended so disastrously for them, has not been dispelled. Indeed, as a direct result of a division of the ranks then the very fate of the party lies in the balance. It seems to be crumbling under the strain. A complete collapse seems to be the most likely thing now. Developments this week have given an impetus to the movement to form a new party to express the views of the electors who are not followers of Labour The feeling is growing that tiia party made a disastrous mistake in deciding to expel Senator Duncan ana Messrs. Hughes, Maxwell, and Marks. Some endeavour, it is held, should have been made to heal the- breach and so ensure an effective opposition. But far from being healed the breach has been widened, for the members who have come under the party axe nave hosts of followers, as their election in. spite of the operation of the machine has shown.

BEBELS ATTEND PASTY MEETING

The rebels have been likened to baa boys who would not go into # corner They, were told that if they behaved themselves for twelve months, and followed blindly the directions of the P artv > they might be taken back into the fold. They were each indignant when the offer was made. The most amazing part of the whole business was that when the Parliamentary party met at Canberra on Tuesday, they were not asked for any explanation of their action. What defence they might have had appeared to be no concern of those who had taken over the control of the remnants of what was a great political party. All four insisted upon attending the meeting, even though they had not been invited, and the word "impudence" was freely used to describe their action. They also insisted on addressing the meeting in forcible terms, but all to no immediate purpose. Still what they said might have far-reach-ing results. When they asked in what way they had violated the platform of the party no answer was given. The most bitter man at the meeting waa the man who was afterwards chosen to ill Mr. Bruce Js part as leader, the former Attorney-General, Mr. Latham. He spoke in terms of cold anger which revealed a depth of vengeful feeling against the men who, he claimed, had wrecked the Government.

MR. MAXWELL WITHDRAWS. Mr. Maxwell, the blind barrister, made an almost pathetic appeal to the party, and he was heard in complete silence. "I was amazed/ he said, "to read that this gathering, such as it was, had arrogated to itself the right to act for the party, and to exclude me, among others, from the party. I am here ito challenge your right to make such a decision, or in any way to affect my membership of the party.' I broke no pledge and no party rule. I have always maintained and enunciated the policy of Nationalism, as enumerated at the 1928 election. By a substantial majority the electors of Fawkner chose me as their representative. I claim my right to attend the party meeting, and to remain a member of the party. However, inasmuch as the Nationalists here say that they do not desire that I should be associated with, them, and as I have no wish to forca my company where it is not desired. I withdraw." He left the party room ia silence, and his wife was waiting at the door to lead him away. But the bombshell of the week came when Senator Massy Greene, one of the ''high-lights" of the Nationalist Party, announced his resignation. It was regarded as certain that others would follow the example that he had set. Senator Greene said that he regarded the decision to reject the socalled rebels as a perpetuation of the policy of the late leader of the party. As the policy was quite opposed to his ideas as to what the party should do he could no longer remain a member. Senator Greene is among those who believe that it was the reliance that was placed on the coercive power of the machine that led to the vital changes in the industrial laws that were proposed by Mr. Bruce. Ho has no desire to be ground between the upper and nether mill stone of a machine operated in * manner that appeared to be acceptable to the leaders of the party. And now the Country Party has decided definitely to cut the painter, and will sit in Parliament as a separate party, having nothing further to do with the Nationalists.