REJECTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 239, 9 October 1934, Page 7

REJECTED.

LYONS OFFER.

COALITION CABINET.

Country Party Asks Too Many Portfolios.

ALSO TARIFF ALTERATIONS

(United P.A.— Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

SYDNEY, October 8. Federal members of the Country party to-day discussed the terms of the invitation of the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, to the Country party to form a Coalition Cabinet. It is officially stated that Mr. Lyons offered the Country party three full portfolios, one of which might he the vice-presidency of the Executive Council. Mr. Lyons reserved the right to veto any individual who might not be acceptable to him and the right to dispense with the services of any Minister who might not prove satisfactory. Later it was announced that the negotiations had fallen through. Dr. Earle Page, leader of the Country party, communicated with Mr. Lyons expressing his willingness to enter into partnership, but the Country party desired that the new Government should modify its tariff policy in the interests of the primary producers and ill accordance with the spirit of article 10 of the Ottawa Agreement, and that the Country party representation in the Cabinet should be based on its numerical strength, in which event it would be entitled to four portfolios, with its leader as deputy-Prime Minister^ Mr. Lyons telegraphed a reply stating that he regretted that the Country party was asking too much, and adding that he was unable to deviate from the tariff policy enunciated to the electors. Mr. Lyons intends immediately to proceed with the formation of his own Ministry. The checking of election returns for the House of Representatives has been completed. The final state of the parties is as follows:— United Australia party .... 32 United Country party .... 15 Federal Labour 18 State Labour 0