Bruce Defeated

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 765, 11 September 1929, Page 9

Bruce Defeated

SENSATION IN AUSTRALIA Government to Resign HUGHES’S FATEFUL AMENDMENT (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Received 9.45 a.m. CANBERRA, Today. THE Bruce Government has been defeated by one vote on an amendment moved by Mr. W. M. Hughes, and is expected to resign immediately.

The fateful amendment, which con- i cerned the Maritime Industries Bill, was moved by Mr. Hughes in the House of Representatives. The purport of the amendment was to postpone the proposed abilitiou of the Federal Arbitration Court until a referendum has been taken or a general election has been held.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bruce, told the House that the vote would be taken not later than Thursday evening. However, the division was unexpectedly taken last evening. UPROAR IN HOUSE The amendment was carried by 35 votes to 34. There was a dramatic scene in the House as the fateful vote was taken, and the result was announced amid uproar. Mr. Bruce immediately secured au adjournment to enable the Government to consider its position. In the course of his speech, he had made it clear that he would recommend a dissolution of Parliament if the amendment were carried. He said he conceived no other alternative. The defeat of the Ministry caused a sensation. It was generally anticipated that Mr. Bruce would just manage to win by one vote, but the eleventh-hour defection from his party of Lieut.-Commander W. M. Marks (Nationalist), who represents Wentworth, New South Wales, enabled Mr. Hughes to bring about the Government’s downfall. Other members of Mr. Bruce’s party who recorded adverse votes with Mr. Hughes were Messrs. P. G. Stewart (Independent, Wimmera), E. A. Mann

(Independent, Perth), and W. J. McWilliams (Independent, Franklin). LOBBY SPECULATION The “Sydney Morning Herald” says the Government will probably tender its resignation to the GovernorGeneral, Lord Stonehaven, today, and

ask for a dissolution of Parliament. Au early, if not immediate, general election will take place. There is speculation in the lobbies whether his Excellency will grant the dissolution. It is thought in some quarters that Mr. Hughes will he sent for. Others hold that Mr. J. H. Scullin, Leader of the Opposition, will be asked to form a Ministry.