ELECTIONS IN VICTORIA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 13

ELECTIONS IN VICTORIA

Labour Split Puts Government Out (Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, April 20. The Governor of Victoria (Sir Dallas Brooks) today granted a dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly after the defeat of the Cain Labour Government early today. The Premier (Mr John Cain) , saw the Governor this afternoon to seek the dissolution. Elections

are expected to be held on May 28 or June 4. Victorian electors thus will be the first to get an opportunity to express an opinion on the bitter Labour faction split in Australia. Liberal Party leaders in Victoria today predicted that the fate of the Victorian Labour Government would also overtake the Labour Governments in New South Wales and Queensland. Mr Cain’s government was defeated on a no-confidence motion moved by the Liberal-Country Party Opposition and carried by 34 votes to 23. Eleven Labour members recently expelled by the party voted with the Opposition. In Canberra, the Federal Labour Party leader. Dr. H. V. Evatt, said today that the defeat of Mr Cain’s government was “the most wicked and treacherous manoeuvre in the history of the Australian Labour movement.” He promised Mr Cain “100 per cent, support” from (he Federal Parliamentary Labour Patty in the election campaign. Mr Robert Joshua, leader of the newly-recognised Anti-Communist Labour Party in the Federal House of Representatives, promised in Canberra that its members would support adherents of the recently-ousted Victoria State Labour executive.

The debate was the liveliest and, -at times, the most bitter for some years. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Bolte, moved the motion of no confidence which stated: “That, as the Government accepts direction from sources which, in the opinion of the House, endanger the security of the country and the welfare of the State, it does not possess the confidence of the House.” Mr Bolte said that Victoria had been selected for the first test of strength between communism and constitutional government. That was why he had mentioned the danger to Australian security in his no-confidence motion. In 1952, a foreign country had directed the Australian Communist Party to seize control of the Left wing of the Labour Party. Mr Bolte said that any government that followed the lead of Dr. Evatt should be “sacked immediately.” His record was studded with dealings with the Communists.

Mr Cain said that members of the breakaway Labour Party had run away from every principle to join forces with their lifelong enemies. “They have a record of an outside influence acting behind them.”

Mr W. B. Barry: Such as? Mr Cain: The Santamaria group. Mr Cain added: “We won’t be influenced by churches or any other bodies.”