AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1924, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

[BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'. VICTORIAN POLITICS. VI CTO R FAX CABINET. -MELBOURNE, Alarch 1-1. hollowing tlie decisions of the Etinners' I uion Conference, regarding a composite Alinistry, it is stated the Farnno's’ Ciiion Ministers in the Cabinet intend to resign their portfolios forthwith. This will mean the doom ol the Lawson .Ministry. The I" nion decided the Farmers' Party pact with the Lawson Ministry to keep the latter in office should end with this Parliament, the farmers objecting to being tied to the Nationalist, Party. 3he Union also resolved to empower the Fanners’ Party to make an agreement with any Partv. reserving the right to nominate its own candidates for seals.

Premier Lawson lias had a lengthy conference with the Liberal members of the Ministry. It is rumoured that, as an outcome he intends to submit the resignation of the Alinistry to the Governor. After the conference. Mr Lawson stated lie had received no report from tho Farmers’ Union .Members of the .Ministry , hut lie expected to do so. He added that the Governor was out of town. but. he would see hint immediately he returned. In the meantime, he declined to make any statement on the position. Though Dr Seurle Page (Federal Treasurer, also a Farmers' Party man) claims the matter is purely a State affair, it is considered likely a Federal crisis will now arise should the Federal Farmers' organisation attempt to force upon ilie Country Party Members ol the Federal Cabinet conditions "• in those forced upon the Farmers' representative* in the State Alinistrv.

Such a entingeiicy is regarded as int improbable.

CABINET RESIGNS

‘Received this day at 3 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Alarch 15 Air Lawson, in a later statement said though the relationship among the members of the Ministry was quite harmonious, lie considered that alter the attitude adopted by the I'armors Union Conference it was no longer desirable or leasable to carry on with the present composite Ministry. He therefore, waited on the Lient-Gover-imr and tendered the resignation of the whole Cnbinei and aeeepteil a commission to form a new Cabinet. A full meeting of tho Nationalist Partv. from whose ranks the .Ministry will lie formed, is called for Monday. The farmers' representatives in the late Cabinet have accepted the conference decision in the same spirit as Mr Lawson. Mr Allen said I hey were not going to remain m the Cabinet under lal.se plot cnees and there was tie need for Mr Lawson to ask them to resign. PHILIPPINES REVOLT. ; .MANILA. Alarch 11. Fortv-eight Aforos were killed and seven c-on.stnlmlary wounded in a fight at Cotahiga Island. AUSTRALIAN INQUIRIES. AIELBOURNF, .March 13. The Federal Cabinet to-day disciisscd the .Singapore base, but nothing is likelv to be published till the House nnot.s on the 20th. It is understood) another cable is being sent to Air ATacDenald emphasising tho Cabinet’s view that the base is considered vital to Aulralian safety and Empire maiittenaece, and British naval supremacy. Air Bruce, when the. squadron arrives, will discuss naval defence with Admiral Field. There are unconfirmed reports that Air Bruce discussed with Air AfneRev.ald a ,scheme alternative to Singapoio, namely, a naval base in sonthvevt Australia MV Bruce declines to be drawn on the subject.