MILITIA FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1942, Page 4

MILITIA FORCES

FEDERAL LABOUR MEMBERS AT ODDS PRIME MINISTER ATTACKED. DELICATE SITUATION CREATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) CANBERRA, This Day. A delicate situation for the Federal Government has been created by an attack which a section of the Labour Party has made on the Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, for his proposal io extend the area of service of Australia’s militia forces. An amendment to, Mr J. Curtin's adjournment motion, moved in the House of Representatives by the Victorian Independent Labour member, Mr Blackburn, was: “That this House reaffirms the policy upon which the majority of its members was elected and it opposes the imposition of any form of compulsory service outside Australia and its territories. Political correspondents declare^ that the introduction of this amendment came as a surprise to senior ministers. Mr Curtin, at a later meeting of the Labour caucus is reported to have said that he would not tolerate elements in his own party who tried to embarrass him on the militia issue and that before he would allow his own party to solit in Parliament he would resign. When a suggestion, by Mr Curtin, that Mr Blackburn should agree io adjourn the House debate, leaving the question undecided was approved by the Labour Caucus on the voices, the Labour Minister, Mr E. J. Ward, is reported to have protested violently. "One Labour senator squared up to Mr Ward before being pulled away,” declares the “Sydney Herald” correspondent.

The Opposition is expected to oppose the adjournment move but if Labour members are loyal to the caucus decision the' adjournment will be carried. The Labour members opposing the adjournment will have to join Mr Blackburn as Independent backbenchers. Some correspondents declare that the decision on the adjournment vote may lie with the Speaker, Mr Nairn, who is a member of the United Australia Party.;