Fall Of Victorian Country Party Government

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 9

Fall Of Victorian Country Party Government

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 pan.) MELBOURNE, October 22. The crisis in the Victorian Parliament, after the defeat of the Country Party Government in the Legislative Council, has not yet been resolved. The Premier (Mr J. G. McDonald) saw the Governor (Sir Dalias Brooks) today, and reported that his Government was unable to carry on. The Governor’s decision will be announced tomorrow. Victoria is governed by a Parliament of two Houses—a Legislative Council, of 34 members (the Upper House), and the Legislative Assembly. Two earlier attempts in the Assembly to defeat Mr McDonald’s Government each failed by one vote.

The downfall of the Government was brought about by the Labour Party. It voted with the breakaway section of the Liberal Party, led by the former Premier, Mr T. T. Hollway, in refusing supply to the Government. Labour’s purpose was to carry out electoral reforms.

Labour was able to defeat the Government by 17 votes to 16. with the assistance of two Liberal members. The Government has been held in power by the rump of the Liberal Party, headed by Mr L. G. Norman. It is thought likely that Mr Hollway will form a caretaker Government, with Labour support, to pass a bill, the effect of whicn will be to divide Victorian electorates on the lines of the Federal electorates, which were recently rectified. The provision of two seats for each of these electorates would make a Lower House of 66 compared with 65. Country seats would be reduced from 33 to 30. and the metropolitan seats would benefit accordingly with gains for Liberal and Labour candidates at the expense of the Country Party. The Legislative Assembly also sat almost until dawn. Mr McDonald, who had spent the night with legal advisers, said he would see the Governor “at the earliest opportunity.” In moving the adjournment of the Assembly when the council vote against the Government was reported, he said he would treat the vote on it as vital, but the House carried the adjournment on the voices. The Labour leader (Mr J. Cain) signalled to Mr Hollway not to oppose the motion.