POLITICAL TANGLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1940, Page 4

POLITICAL TANGLE

AUSTRALIA’S UNSOLVED PROBLEM LABOUR MOVE TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS. DISSENSIONS IN COUNTRY PARTY. (By,Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, October 15. The problem of which political party will have the future government of Australia was advanced another stage today when the Federal Labour Party decided to appoint a committee to initiate discussions with authorised representatives of all other parties and also with two Independents, Messrs Coles and Wilson, “with a view to securing their co-operation in strengthening the war effort and to ensure that Parliament can carry on effectively in the pesent grave, perilous situation.” The foregoing ' decision was communicated to representatives of the other parties, which met later in the day. The precise number to constitute the Labour committee will be decided when the replies are received from the other parties. The Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, had a conference this afternoon with members of his Cabinet after the receipt of Labour’s invitation, which in the opinion of Government supporters is a shrewd move to take the initiative from Mr Menzies. Another interesting sidelight on the political deadlock was a manoeuvring for the leadership of the United Country Party, on which the party is at loggerheads. The Victorian members, dissatisfied with Mr Cameron, the present leader, nominated the Minister of External Affairs, Mr McEwan against him, resulting in Mr Cameron refusing nomination and angrily quitting the meeting. Sii’ Earle Page, ex-leader of the party, immediately came into the picture and was nominated against Mr McEwan. The ballot resulted in eight votes each, and the meeting adjourned with the object of trying to indrtce Mr Cameron to return and record his vote to settle the leadership. No previous meeting of the party has ever been so acrimonious.

Mr Menzies was re-elected unopposed as leader of the United Australia Party at its meeting.