EARLIER ELECTION

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

EARLIER ELECTION

POSSIBILITY IN TASMANIA DISCUSSED HOBART, Nov. 10. Excitement is mounting in Tasmania over the prospects of an early State election, but the position is not as simple as that in Victoria, which forced Mr Cain to go to the people. An election could be brought about either by the refusal,-of the Legislative Council to pass the financial clause in the Public Works Bill or by the defection of a Labour member of the Assembly. The Labour Government is operating with a non-Labour Upper House and with a working, majority of only one in the Lower House. The Legislative Council cannot precipitate an immediate election by withholding supply, as it recent!*/ granted supply until June 30 of next year. It is known that some Liberal members of the Upper House did not approve of the action of the Victorian Council in withholding supply on a Federal issue.

Members of the Legislative Council, however, may decide to fight the Government on the nationalisation of transport issue. Unless it can extract from the State Government an undertaking that it will not proceed with its plans in that direction the council may delete an item of £367.200 for railway and road development work. Government spokesmen say that the Government will not accept this as an issue on which to go to the country Defection rumours have followed the attitude of Dr R. J. D. Turnbuil, medical practitioner, who, although he entered the House a year ago on the Labour ticket, has consistently criticised the Cosgrove Government on health issues. Cabinet meets to-morrow to,consider the redistribution of portfolios. Opposition sources state that Dr Turnbull's loyalty hinges on the allocation of the health portfolio, now held by the Chief Secretary, Mr White