VICTORIAN COALITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26616, 12 November 1947, Page 5

VICTORIAN COALITION

LIBERAL LEADER’S DECISION

APPLAUDED BY FEDERAL OPPOSITION

SYDNEY, Nov. 11

The first effects of the decision of the Liberal Party leader, Mr T. T. Hollway, to invite the Opposition and Country Party leader, Mr J. G. B McDonald, to join in a composite Ministry to govern Victoria is applauded in Opposition circles here as a manifestation of the determination of the non-Labour parties to continue tne fight as one body against nationalisation of the banks. When Mr Hollway was commissioned last night by the Governor, Sir Winston Dugan, to form a new Government. he could have elected to draw the Ministry from his own party and count on the support of Country Party members to retain power. The coalition Ministry, however, will be a very strong one without vulnerable points. A concerted move by Victoria, South Australia and West Australia against bank nationalisation may be expected early next year. A meeting of the three Premiers will also discuss uniform taxation, which State Premiers regard as unwarranted. At a Sydney meeting of the Liberal Party, officials said that to save its skin the Federal Labour Party must make some popular gesture to offset the effect of the Victorian catastrophe

“ It may be that Mr Chifley will relax some of the oppressive restrictions that are unnecessarily burdening the people, or he may offer some reductions in taxation,” said a Liberal spokesman. “We intend to warn the people against such subterfuges. The disastrous effects of the Banking Bill cannot be wiped out by a few easy concessions to public opinion.”