Sir Robert Menzies’s Triumph

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30303, 2 December 1963, Page 14

Sir Robert Menzies’s Triumph

The Australian General Election was a triumph for the political perspicacity and the personality of Sir Robert Menzies. Sir Robert Menzies went to the country while his Government’s term had still a year to run, because, with an effective majority of only one in the House of Representatives, he felt he had insufficient strength on which to base a firm defence and foreign policy. Some felt that he had misjudged the mood of the public, which for several reasons might resent being called a year early to the polls by a Prime Minister who had experienced no great difficulties in Parliament Some of his supporters doubted whether he would be able to keep his chosen issues paramount. The election vindicated the Prime Minister's political assessments and his judgment of the Australian people. His opponents made strong bids for support on domestic issues; and Sir Robert Menzies—a canny politician—made counterbids. Labour was not helped by the statement of its leader (Mr Calwell). late in the campaign, that it would abolish preferential voting for the House of Representatives—an undertaking not mentioned in the policy. But no domestic issue could account for the proportions of the support given to Sir Robert Menzies; it was almost a political landslide. On this occasion the Australian electors looked beyond domestic politics to the national interest.

The " Sydney Morning “ Herald ” observed last week that, except in time of war, the Australian people were for generations free

from care about the nation’s physical security; now they were beginning to feel something of the anxiety that had haunted the European consciousness for centuries. Sir Robert Menzies insisted that under this shadow Australia needed a Government with power for decision and, pointing to the Labour Party, not one whose policy was ultimately in the hands of the “ thirty-six faceless men ” of the party’s Federal conference; not one whose power of assessment was prejudiced by naive beliefs about the United Nations or nuclear-free zones, and not one which persistently niggled at the American ally. In this, his greatest success of a notable political career, Sir Robert Menzies has made national security the paramount issue in Australian politics. After 14 years in office, and at 69 years of age, he may decide to retire before the end of the term for which he has been given a mandate. If he does so, it will be with the satisfaction of knowing that he served Australia well by inspiring his fellow-countrymen to adopt the “outward look’’ indispensable to people of a great nation.