CHALLENGE TO PREMIER

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 12

CHALLENGE TO PREMIER

GALLED ON TO RESIGN SYDNEY, October 4. (Received October 5, .at 8 a.m.) Just what attitude Dr Evatt will assume when the Labour “ show-down ” conies after the party conference with Mr Menzies on Monday, in Melbourne, is an all-absorbing topic in political circles. Dr Evatt, -fortified by his judicial attainments, gave a tremendous impetus to Labour’s campaign in New South Wales and, to a lesser degree, in other States. He is regarded as having strong claims for the Labour leadership, although more than once he has said that be has no intention of challenging Mr Curtin’s position. Dr Evatt, only to-day, created a stir by a Press statement calling on Mr Menzies to resign because he had failed to secure an overwhelming mandate and the confidence of the people. Dr Evatt went to the length of outlining what to him was the constitutional position arising out of the present stalemate, and declared it was contrary to constitutional practice for Mr Menzies not only to attempt to cling to office, but to attempt to assume to himself the special jurisdiction of the King’s representative to consult with the various party leaders. Dr Evatt claimed that Mr Curtin was entitled to an opportunity of receiving the King’s commission. He added that the danger was that the Prime Minister’s manoeuvring might postpone that overhaul of the national war administration so necessary for the safety of tho country.

Another noteworthy feature of the election was the heavy defeat of the former Prime Minister of New South Wales, Mr B. S. Stevens, by the retiring Labourite in tho Lang electorate, contrasting with the slender victory of his former Ministerial colleague, Mr Spooner, in the Robertson contest. It will be recalled that Mr Spooner indirectly brought about the downfall of the Stevens Ministry. The Federal Ministers, Messrs Hughes, Spender, Stewart, Cameron, as well as the Prime Minister, all finished up with substantial majorities, but Mr Thorby’s defeat was not entirely unexpected in view of the many controversies with which he had been associated.