FEDERAL POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 9

FEDERAL POLITICS

SJR E. PAGE ATTACKS MR. R. G. MENZIES

UPROAR IN HOUSE

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

CANBERRA, April 20. A first-class Federal political crisis loomed today when the Prime Minister, Sir Earle Page, speaking in the House of Representatives on the motion for the adjournment, attacked the newly-elected leader of the United Australia Party, Mr. R. G. Menzies, who is Attorney-General. The substance of Sir Earle Page's attack was, first, that Mr. Menzies had resigned from the Lyons Government at a time when Australia was spending untold millions in getting ready for war; secondly, that before resigning he made a speech which was interpreted as an attack upon his own leader; and, thirdly, that in 1915 he resigned from the military forces and did not go overseas for war service.

Sir Earle Page emphasised that the change in the leadership of the United Australia Party had wrought a change in the relationship between the two Government parties. Australia needed a leader in whom the utmost confidence could be placed. He must have a public record such as would inspire the people to the maximum national effort in a time of emergency. FURTHER PARTY RELATIONS IMPOSSIBLE. Sir Earle Page indicated that, with Mr. Menzies as leader and as possible Prime Minister, it would-be quite impossible to continue the Cabinet relations hitherto existing between the two Government parties, and that was the advice he intended giving the Gover-nor-General.

Sir Earle Page also revealed that he had communicated with Mr. Bruce mentioning th^ possibility of an election. At the same time he had offered his own Parliamentary seat to Mr. Bruce if the latter would return to lead a new composite Government. Mr. Bruce replied that he would only return to lead a non-party Government.

During Sir Earle Page's address the House was in an uproar.

Mr. Menzies was cheered on rising to reply. He declared that the door

to co-operation had been closed, bolted, and barred, for reasons not only offensive and personal, but paltry.

"I did not resign from my commission in the militia," he continued. "I completed my training under the universal system and then, like many other young men in 1915, I had to answer the question, 'Is it my duty to go to the war?' The answer to this is hardly one for a public platform. It was really an intimate, personal, and family affair, and for reasons that were compelling I was unable to join my two brothers in the infantry." MR. MENZIES CHEERED. Mr. Menzies closed his reply Dy saying: "In the discharge of my duties as a leader I hope to exhibit none of the miserable qualities suggested by the retiring Prime Minister in one of the most remarkable attacks on my public career." Mr. Menzies was cheered in all parts of the House. Sir Earle Page's speech is reported to have caused .deep resentment even among his own party supporters, some of whom intend to seek an explanation and may even demand his resignation from the leadership of the Country Party. DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS. Dramatic developments followed the adjournment. Two Country Party members, Mr. A. W. Fadden and Mr. B. H. Corser, announced their resignation from their party owing to their objection to Sir Earle Page's remarks. They intend to become Independent Country Party members.

The House adjourned till May 3

Sir Earle Page later tendered his

resignation as Prime Minister and Mr. Menzies was invited to see the Gover-nor-General, Lord Gowrie.