PARTY MOVES

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1934, Page 10

PARTY MOVES

TENSE PEELING

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

COUNTRY PARTY ATTITUDE

' (From "The post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, March 22.

Although it is practically certain that there will not bo a General Election in Australia—that is, in the Federal sphere—until nearly next year, activity in all.States is increasing among all parties, and tho feeling can orily bo described as tense. Spectacular events in tho' 'Federal .Parliament arc forecast for the end of ..tho present year, and were it not for the visit of Prince Gcorgo the General Election might have been fixed for a date' in December." .In the meantime the bitterness between the United Australia Party, now in power, and the Country ' } Party is the most striking feature of tho political controversies that have been raging during the past fortnight. The Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) has always been of the opinion that there should be closer co-operation between his party and the Country Party, and because this has been lacking ho has blamed tho Country Party. The Country Party, in turn, has resented his insinuations, and a crisis was reached last week when the TJ.A.P. decided to nominate one of its own members to contest a country seat—■■Calarc, in New South Wales—against the sitting Country Party man. .

In political circles this is interpreted as being in retaliation for tlio attitude adopted by the Country Party during the- present Ministry's term of office. In most quarters it is believed that tho door to unity has been closed, but there is a possibility that the force of publis opinion will be exercised to'such. a. degree as to compel a further endeavour to compose the difficulties and the differences. After all, both parties regard extreme Labour, which is going to make a .tremendous bid for power, a common enemy, ana it is strange that they should decide to fight one another in a way that will make it easier'for, the third party to slip into office. However, tariff policy is a vital matter which keeps tho two sections apart, and while the Country Party- favours something like' Free Trade and the Ministry Protection, there would seem to be' little hope for a fusion. SEAT IN CABINET. ! ' According to the Prime Minister he has invited the Country .Party to join tho Ministry. The leader of the .Country Party 6ays, in effect, tliat 'that might be so, but that he was refused a conference on policy. Dr. Pago says that had the Country Party joined 'the Ministry without that conference all tho members would have had to resign' a few days later because they would havo been unable to endorse the tariff schedulo submitted by ' the Ministry. Mr. Lyons says that the Country Party has been more or less obstructive ever since, and this opinion is endorsed by many sections of his party. Mr, Lyons ha* expressed a willingness to nialfe further overtures, but now thcro arc certain sections of thc;-TJ:A.P. which would not welcomo this.

It is asserted by many U.A.P. members that at the last General Election a number of scats were allowed to go by default to1 tho Country Party. In view of the overwhelming victory of the TJ.A.P., some of those scats, it is urged, could have boon won by U.A.P. candidates ngainst tlic -Country Party. lit the present mood of United Australia Party organisations, candidates will bo run in almost all electorates'now represented by Country Party members. It cannot be said that comppsito Governments have been a success in Australia, particularly those formed since the war, and many United Australia members would prefer to retain their absolute independence. .They have had a tasto of what that independence 'means, and, they K:irc not anxious to go ■back to the system that'ruled while the Bruce-Page Government was in power. LABOUR UNITY MOVE. In the circumstances it is not surprising that the Labour Party should have decided to make almost "desperate steps to secure unity within the Labour ranks. Labour recognises that it will have a great chance if its' two main opponents are at one another's throats during a particularly strenuous 'i campaign. The unity move initiated by Victoria has been checked, it is true, but the last has not been heard of that. New South "Wales has sent Lang followers to all the other' States to see what can bo done, and some- observers believe that at the : psychological moment the Premier of Queensland (Mr. Fovgan Smith) may,make a dramatic appearance as peacemaker, or as, mediator and conciliator, and as a leader. Tho outstanding fact is that ■ Mr. Scullin's supporters wjll not sacrifice Mr. Scullin for eithei Mr. Lang or Mr. Forgan Smith, and this certainly eomplit'fttes the position. The Federal Parliament will not sit until Juno, and the session will last until just before Prince George arrives. The session will present the Lyons Government with an opportunity for a littlo ."window-dressing," and it is likely that full advantage will be taken of this with the idea of impressing the electors. Apart from anything it may do in the future, it is generally conceded that the Ministry has an exeollont record. It has certainly restored !the finances of Australia and been responsible for a measure of confidence that has been to the Commonwealth's good. All the same it is unlikely that it will be returned at the next election with the same.substantial majority it was given at the last. The visit of the former Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce),'now High Commissioner, will be watched with great interest, but as he has announced that he will lie aloof from politics it is doubtful; whether he will exercise much' influence in: that direction. : At the'same'time it would not- be surprising if. some efforts^vcro made to retain his services in. '.Australia instead of tn London;.' .;;'■■•'' ■ ' -,"