WAR COUNCIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1940, Page 3

WAR COUNCIL

PLANS FOR CO-OPERATION IN AUSTRALIA APPOINTMENT OF LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES. CRITICISM OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, October 24. At Canberra the Federal Labour Party elected its leader, Mr J. Curtin, the deputy-leader, Mr F. M. Forde, and the party secretary, Mr N. J. Makin, to represent it on the newly-formed War Council. Mr J. Beasley was selected to represent the so-called Non-Com-munist Labour Group. The Government representatives have not yet been elected. The Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, stated that it was most unlikely that he would be able to attend meetings of the War Council. He explained that the functions of the council would have to be worked out as it went, along. Hard and last rules could not be laid down from the outset. He admitted that the Council would duplicate the work of the Wai Cabinet to some extent, but it would not mean the displacement of the War Cabinet.

The failure of the all-party conference to form a National Government has caused the keenest disappointment among the rank and file on both sides of the House. Sir Frederick Stewart expressed the view that the arrangement arived at last night would not satisfy the bulk of the Australian people. He visualised most embarrassing situations for the new War Council. The Country Party member for Bendigo, Major-General Rankin, likened the arrangement to thowing a piece of bread to a tiger. The reaction in union circles in Sydney to the new. War Council is generally favourable. The president of the Official Labour Party. Mr MeAlpine, declared that Mr Curtin had followed the only course open to him in implementing his election promises. The Country Party today passed a resolution which, while regretting .failure to bring about a National Gov- ' ernment, expressed the party’s appreciation of the’ Governments endeavours to bring about the closest possible co-operation between all sections of Parliament for the prosecution of the Mr Menzies, who is going to Melbourne from Canberra tomorrow, hopes to announce the reconstruction of his Ministry during the weekend, and said that he would then deal with the Budget. Parliament will reassemble on November 20. New South Wales members intend to insist on more adequate representation for their State.