"BREAD FOR TIGER"

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 100, 24 October 1940, Page 12

"BREAD FOR TIGER"

FEDERAL WAR COUNCIL

PREMIER UNABLE TO ATTEND

NO SET RULES

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Received October 24, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, October 23. At Canberra today the Federal Labour Party elected its leader, Mr. J. Curtin, the deputy leader, Mr. F. M. Forde, and the party secretary, Mr. N. J. Makin, to represent it on the newlyformed War Council. Mr. J. Beasley was selected to represent the so-called Non-Communist Labour Group. The Government representatives have not yet been elected. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, stated today that it was most unlikely that he would be able to attend meetings of the War Council. He explained that the functions of the council-would have to be worked out as it went along. Hard and fast rules could not be laid down from the outset. He admitted that the Council would duplicate the work of the War Cabinet to some extent, but it would not mean the displacement of the War Cabinet. The failure of the all-party conference to form a National Government has caused the keenest disappointment among the rank and file on both sides of the House. Sir Frederick Stewart expressed the view that the arrangement arrived at last night would not satisfy the bulk of the Australian people. He visualised most embarrassing situations for the new War Council. The Country Party member for.Ben-] digo, Major-General Rankin, likened) the arrangement.to throwing a piece of j bread to a tiger. j UNIONISTS SATISFIED. j The reaction in union circles in; Sydney to the new War Council is generally favourable. The president of the Official Labour Party, Mr. McAlpine, declared that Mr. Curtin had followed the only course open to him in implementing his election promises. The Country Party today passed a resolution which, while regretting the failure to bring about a National Government, expressed the party's appreciation of the Government's endeavours to bring about the closest possible cooperation between all sections of Parliament for the prosecution of the war. Mr. Menzies, who is going to Melbourne from Canberra tomorrow, hopes to announce the reconstruction of his Ministry during the weekend, and said that he would then deal with the Budget, Parliament will reassemble on November 20. New South Wales members intend to insist on more adequate representation for their State.