ELECTION DEADLOCK

Evening Star, Issue 23701, 8 October 1940, Page 8

ELECTION DEADLOCK

PARTY LEADERS CONFER INCONCLUSIVE DISCUSSION MELBOURNE, October 7. The Menzies-Curtin political discussion. resulting from the election deadlock, together with the desirability of forming a National Government, was inconclusive to-day. The Prime Minister, in a statement, said they had a frank discussion on the war and international developments, and he informed Mr Curtin of his desire and the necessity for the formation of a national Ministry or an all-patty Administration on an equitable basis. Mr Curtin’s reply was that, as an important principle of Labour policy was involved, he was bound to submit the matter to the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party, which he would do probably next Monday. Mr Menzies later had similar talks with Mr A. G. Cameron, Leader of the Country Party, and Mr J. A. Beasley, Leader of the Labour Non-Communists. IMPASSE CONTINUES LABOUR REJECTS NATIONAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL. MELBOURNE, October 8. (Received October 8, at 9.10 a.m.) The conference of Federal party leaders called by Mr Menzies to-day to discuss the political situation did not eventuate, though the four leaders concerned—Messrs Menzies, Cameron, Curtin, and Beasley—were in Melbourne. Mr Menzies conferred separately with Mr Curtin, the Leader of the Federal Labour Party, then with Mr Beasley, leader of a group of four New South "Wales members calling themselves the Non-Communist Labour Party. Statements issued by Mr Menzies, Mr Curtin, and Mr Beasley later threw no light on the political impasse, but it is believed that Mr Curtin firmly rejected the National Government proposal, declaring that Mr Menzies should resign, allowing the Governor-General to call on Mr Curtin to form a Government. "Week-end developments suggested the possibility that Labour is willing to taka office with the support of a small group of Independent non-Labour members, giviug a majority of three or four in the. House of Representatives. The only definite outcome of to-day's proceedings was the decision of all leaders to call meetings of their parties at Canberra next week. Failure to reach agreement on the formation of a National Government may cause Mr Menzies to decide to meet the House • and face a no-confi-dence motion moved by Mr Curtin. The Independents, upon whom any Government must depend, will then be forced to declare their hands.