MOVING TO CLIMAX

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1941, Page 5

MOVING TO CLIMAX

POLITICAL SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA PRIME MINISTER’S LETTER TO MR CURTIN. NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY OF ONE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) CANBERRA. August 27. _ Events moved swiftly toward the climax today when the Menzies Government, defying Labour’s challenge, refused to resign and decided to face Parliament. Mr Menzies sent a letter to the Labour leader, Mr Curtin, conveying the Ministry's decision and expressing regret that the Labour Party had seen fit to reject the overtures for a National Government. The Labour Party met immediately to consider the next step. What this is likely to be is] so far not disclosed. The House of Representatives met this afternoon and secured the passage of the Supply Bill, enabling’’the Government to reach the haven of a recess tonight. Speculation this afternoon was rife as to whether Labour will launch a no-confidence motion immediately or defer the vital attack till the Budget session at the end of September. Prominent Labour members said that the replacement of Mr Menzies was not the issue; replacement of the Government was the paramount issue. Several Ministers, including the Minister of the Army, Mr Spender, shared the view that it was unthinkable that the Government should allow itself to be bluffed out of office by the Opposition threat. Mr Spender added that while the present crisis persisted it was useless to discuss the question of leadership. Mr Menzies in his letter to Air Guilin stated that no good purpose would be served by dealing in detail with the various statements contained in Mr Curtin's letter, reported yesterday. Almost every paragraph, Mr Menzies added, was controversial, and he was not prepared to carry on the controversy by correspondence. He reminded Mr Curtin that the United Australia Party numbered 25 and not 24 members as stated by Mr Curtin, and the total Government strength therefore was 37 against the 36 Laboi.tr members. Obviously greater political stability could be procured by 37 than 36. “Therefore it is not proposed .to accentuate the political uncertainties from which this unhappy country' is suffering by handing over the Government to the Labour Party,” he stated.