Deadlock In Canberra Now Seems Certain

Press, Volume C, Issue 29699, 18 December 1961, Page 15

Deadlock In Canberra Now Seems Certain

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, December 17. A 61-61 deadlock in the House of Representatives, is accepted in Canberra as certain now, according to political observers, although the formal counting of votes will not end until Monday.

This will confront the Liberal-Country Party coalition Government with two major problems:— How to procure the necessary dissolution of Parliament for the earliest possible new election without precipitating a preliminary constitutional crisis which could conceivably put the Labour Party back into office as a caretaker government during the election period. How to continue effective administration until a government with a clearcut mandate can be established. by a new poll The Government virtually ceased determinative administration. in accordance with tradition, more than a month

ago when the House of Representatives was dissolved. Observers say a very large number of questions for policy decision has banked up and has created a situation that has never occurred before in Australia. Since neither party has a mandate to govern, no mandate now exists to deal with these, and a serious crisis Ln administration is looming. The position could reach a critical stage at which the Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) and the Labour Opposition leader (Mr Arthur Cal well) may have to consult to decide what should be done concerning vital matters that cannot be postponed until a mandate is established Merger Likely It has been speculated tn Canberra that the Federal

Country Party may merge completely with the Federal Liberal Party, after the defeat of the Country Party diehard Sir Earle Page, in th. Federal elections. One result of a radjustment of party relations to bring the two non-Labour parties closer together would be s virtual certainty that the present leader of th. Country Party (Mr John McEwen) would become automatically and without serious challenge th. successor to Mr Menzies as leader of the non-Labour parties when Mr Menzies retires. Mos’. believe he will retire within about three ywri For 40 years Sir Earle Pag. has be«n Australia's grostest crusader for the independence •M autonomy of th. Country Party as a separate party.