AUSTRALIAN SENATE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26122, 26 May 1950, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN SENATE

Labour Majority Causes Delays MOVES TO BLOCK GOVERNMENT (N.Z. F'ress Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) CANBERRA, May 25. The Labour majority in the Federal Senate is taking unprecedented action to remove the control of the Senate from Government hands, and to delay the passage of the Communist Party Dissolution Bill. The Leader of the Opposition (Senator W. P. Ashley) last night gave notice of motion to fix the days and times of Senate meetings. In the past this has always been a matter for Government decision. Only one of the 24 Government senators was absent, but the Opposition outvoted them by K. The Opposition move fixing the Senate hours is designed to obviate the possibility of another Friday call such as that boycotted by the Labour Tarty last week. Defeated yesterday in his attempt to have the Communist Party Dissolution Bill declared an urgent measure, the Government Leader (Senator N. O’Sullivan) has given notice of motion to suspend until June 15 the standing order prohibiting the introduction of new business i.iter 10.30 p.m. The Government plans that the present session shall end about the middle of June. The suspension of this standing order is often the preliminary to late sessions. An Opposition stonewall is also being conducted on the Bank Bill. Last night two Labour senators each spoke for more than an hour. Labour senators do not admit that they are endeavouring to hold up the Communist Party Dissolution Bill, and they claim that they will pass the bill, witn amendments, by June 8.