LABOUR SECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1941, Page 6

LABOUR SECTION

OPPOSED TO MR MENZIES GOING HOME

WITH FULL POWERS AS PRIME MINISTER. POSITION IN FAR EAST. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, August 13. While it is believed that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Curtin, is prepared to agree to the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies,' going abroad as Prime Minister, he will await the views of his party before declaring himself. A section of the Labour members is planning to defeat the move especially if Mr Menzies’s stay in England is likely to be prolonged. In that case an effort will be made to have the Treasurer. Mr Fadden, appointed and vested with the full powers of the Prime Ministership. The most interesting aspect of Mr Menzies’s projected transfer to London, according to political writers, is that it may rule out the danger of a crisis arising in Parliament which would lead to a General Election.

At tomorrow's meeting of the War Advisory Council Labour members are expected to challenge Mr Menzies’s right to go to London again as Prime Minister.

Mr Beasley, a Labour member of the council, today said he was not aware of any changed conditions concerning the Far East which would warrant Mr Menzies going to London. Moreover, if the position in the Far East was as serious as Mr Menzies made out, then his place was in Australia, not London.

Dr Evatt, another Labour member of the council, expressed a similar view.

It is understood that Mr Menzies is arranging to travel by the first available Clipper so that he can confer with President Roosevelt on the journey.