ANTI-RED BILL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 6, 18 October 1950, Page 5

ANTI-RED BILL

MAY PASS ALL STAGES TO-DAY (Rec. 11.5) CANBERRA, This Day. The Anti-Communist Bill is expected to complete all stages in the Senate to-day, and it will be sent immediately to the Governor-Gefl’eral for signature. It will be proclaimed immediately. Ministers are elated at the collapse of Labour opposition to the Bill, but the political scene will remain stormy as the Government is now determined to do all it can to force a double dissolution on the Commonwealth Bank Bill unless it is allowed to pass in its original form.

The Government’s determination to press the Bank Bill to a decision was indicated in the Senate last night, when the Government adjourned the debate on the second reading on the Anti-Communist Bill and introduced the Bank Bill, which passed all stages in the House of Representatives as an urgent measure last week. The main provision of the Bank Bill to which the Labour Party objects is the setting up of a board to control the Commomyealth Bank’s activities.

The Senate, at a previous session, inserted in the Bill amendments to which the Government would not agree; consequently a similar Bill was introduced again this session. If a double dissolution is' forced upqn the'.'country, Mr Menzies forecast that the election would be fought on the anti-Communist issue.