ELECTION STALEMATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 6

ELECTION STALEMATE

FEDERAL POLITICS PARTIES TO CONFER MR MENZIES'S PLANS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, Oct. 6. (Received Oct. 6, at 8 p.m.) The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) speaking at the declaration of the poll in his electorate, said if the negotiations for a National Government failed it would he a calamity for Australia and a calamity to which he would resolutely refuse to contribute. “If we do not secure a National Government, this Government will continue,” Mr Menzies added. In the House of Representatives election the Government received liberal support in every State excep l one. In spite of the results in New South Wales, the Government actually made headway in five States and he claimed the Government pat - ties were still much the largest group in Parliament. Mr Menzies claimed that the Government had won 16 of the 19 Senate seats and swept the poll in five States out of six. He said the total votes cast for the Government exceeded the total cast for all the Labour parties by 120,000.

Petition to Governor-General

The New South Wales executive of the official Australian Labour Party has decided to petition the Governor*General (Lord Gowrie) to dismiss the Prime Minister, and call upon the Federal Labour Leader, Mr J. Curtin, to form a Governmem. Just what attitude Dr H. V. Evatt will assume when the Labour “ show-down ” comes after the party conference with Mr Menzies to-moi-row, in Melbourne, is an all-absorb-ing 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 Laboui leadership, although more than once he has said that he 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 (he 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 entitlea 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 the country.

Ministers’ Substantial Majorities Another noteworthy feature of the election was the heavy defeat of the former Premier of New South Wales, Mr B. S. Stevens, by the retiring Labour member in the Lang electorate. contrasting with the slender victory of his former Ministerial colleague, Mr E. S. 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 W. M. Hughes, P. C. Spender, A. G. Cameron and Sir Frederick Stewart, as well as the Prime Minister, all finished up with substantial majorities, but Mr H. V. Thorby’s defeat was not entirely unexpected in view of the many controversies with which he had been associated.

A message published on Saturday stated; —With only one Federal seat undecided —Maranoa, in Queensland —which is a likely gain by Labour, the state of the parties remains 36all, with two Independents.