PARTY STRIFE OVER MILITIA SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 5

PARTY STRIFE OVER MILITIA SERVICE

MOKES AT CANBERRA Talk Of Opposition Split And Early Election N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. noon. SYDNEY, this day. The Australian political situation has been seriously complicated by the decision of the Opposition in the Senate to attempt to secure an amendment of the National Emergency Act to enable the militia to serve anywhere in the world. The possibility of an early general election, on the militia issue, is being widely discussed. A former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. R. S. Menzies, has resigned from the Opposition party's executive, and another member of the 'War Council, Mr. P. C. Spender, has also placed his resignation in the hands of the Opposition executive. Both men took this action after they had tried unsuccessfully .to induce a joint meeting of the Opposition parties to reverse their previous decision against any amendments of the Government's Militia'Bill. It has also been announced that Mr. Menzies will move an amendment to the Militia Bill. A second amendment is to be moved by an Independent member, Mr. Coles. Political observers believe the result of these events may be a major split on the Opposition side of the House of Representatives, possibly resulting in two Opposition sections, one comprising the bulk of the present Opposition, as led by Mr. A. W. Fadden, and the other led by Mr. Menzies. Mr. Menzies' Attitude "It is obvious to the Opposition members that Mr. Menzies and Mr. Spender have both changed their original attitude because of the Press campaign and other influences outside Parliament," writes the Sydney Morning Herald political correspondent to-day. "Some critics also associate the move with the formation in Melbourne of a new party, described as an ex-servicemen's party. Ever since he resigned from the Prime Ministership Mr. Menzies' attitude has been generally one of non-co-operation, either with the Government or with his own leader, Mr. Fadden." "Mr. Menzies and Mr. Spender are doing even worse than turning this issue over to domestic strife," declares the Sydney Morning Herald editorially. "How far they will split the Opposition depends upon the loyalty «and good .sense of the rank and file of its two component parties. The truth remains that Mr. Curtin has brought the Labour party, despite all precedent, to endorse a vitally important principle— that the area of service by the citizen forces shall not be confined to Australian territory but shall be enlarged to cover service abroad in accordance with national needs. To precipitate an election over the limits of such service would arouse needless and ignoble strife at a time when the nation can least afford to exhibit itself in such disorder. The Opposition should do nothing to cause such a calamity."

Senate May Pass Amendment Because of its majority in the Senate the Opposition is expected to be able to pass quickly through the Senate a bill removing all restrictions on militia service. Such a move might possibly lead to the resignation of the Government or to a dissolution of Parliament, though it need not necessarily do so. "Neither Britain nor America has the slightest doubt that Australia will carry out in full its maximum contribution to the Allied cause," declared the Minister for the Army, Mr. Forde, in a national radio talk. Britain and America, he added, regarded the Militia Bill as entirely a domestic issue for Australia.