‘Menzies Likely To Retire Soon’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30947, 31 December 1965, Page 13

‘Menzies Likely To Retire Soon’

(N’.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, Dec. 29.

It was confidently expected that Sir Robert Menzies would announce next month his retirement as Prime Minister of Australia, the “Herald” Canberra correspondent, E. 11. Cox, reported today.

Cox said this was disclosed in what he called authoritative quarters. Sir R-’ert Menzies’s retirement would mean the immediate reconstruction of the Cabinet under a new leader, likely to be another Victorian, Mr Harold Holt, the present Treasurer and Deputy-Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. The Leader of the Liberals’ Coalition Party, the Country Party. Mr John McEwen, would remain Deputy Prime Minister and retain the important trade portfolio.

A full meeting of the Parliamentary Liberal Party would elect Sir Robert Menzies's suo-essor. Cox said. The Minister for Labour. Mr McMahon, was being t ; nped to succeed Mr Holt as Treasurer.

Cox said observers in Canberra believed only one development could now alter a time-table for Sir Robert Men zies’s announcement, which in the high ranks of the Cabinet, was regarded as having been set.

That could be some unexpected course of events if the summit conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers on Rhodesia were held. Sir Robert Menzies announced on Tuesday the Australian Government had decided not to be represented at the conference.

If the conference is held and Sir Robert Menzies is criticised for his nonattendance it might be thought desirable to postpone an anouncement of his personal plans until after the conference.