LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 93, 16 October 1940, Page 10

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

SOLVING POLITICAL PUZZLE

ANGRY U.C.P. MEETING

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) CANBERRA, October 15. The problem of which political party will have the future government of Australia was advanced another stage today when the Federal Labour Party decided to appoint a committee to initiate discussions with authorised representatives of all other parties and also with the two Independents, Messrs. Coles and Wilson, "with a view to securing their co-operation in strengthening the . war effort and to ensure that Parliament can carry on effectively in the present grave, perilous situation." The foregoing decision was communicated to representatives of the other parties, which met later in the day. The precise number to constitute the Labour committee will be decided when the replies are received from the other parties. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, had a conference this afternoon with members of his Cabinet after the receipt of Labour's invitation, which, in the opinion of Government supporters, is a shrewd move to take the initiative from Mr. Menzies. MR. CAMERON LEAVES MEETING. Mr. Menzies was re-elected unopposed as leader of the United Australia Pa:*H/- at its meeting. Another interesting sidelight on the political deadlock was a manoeuvring for the leadership of the United Country Party, on which the party is at i loggerheads. The Victorian members, [dissatisfied with Mr. A. G. Cameron, j the present leader, nominated the Minister of External Affairs, Mr. J. McEwen, against him, resulting in Mr. Cameron refusing nomination and angrily quitting the meeting. Sir Earle Page, ex-leader of the* party, immediately came into the picture and was nominated against Mr. McEwen. The ballot resulted in eight votes each, and the meeting adjourned with the object of trying to induce Mr. Cameron to return and record, his vote to settle the leadership. No previous meeting of the party has ever been so I acrimonious.

At a further meeting of the Country Party a second ballot ended in the same way, 8-all, after which the deputy leader of the party, Mr. A. W. Fadden, who is Minister for Air, was asked to lead the party until the deadlock is overcome.