FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20990, 2 January 1932, Page 11

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT

THE NEW CABINET ALLOTMENT OF PORTFOLIOS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, December 31. Mr Lyons is unable officially to announce tho new Federal Ministry owing to the absence of replies to the invitations which he telegraphed to prospective members of tho Cabinet. However, it has been ascertained that the allotment of portfolios has resulted as lollows: Prime Minister and Treasurer, Mr J. A. Lyons. Attorney-General and Minister of External Affairs, and Deputy-Leader of the Government, Mr J. G. Latham. Minister of Defence and Leader of the Government in tho Senate, Sir George Pearce. Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr H. S. Gullett. Postmaster-General and probable Minister of Works and Railways, Mr J. E. Fenton. Minister of Markets, Mr C. A. Hawker. Minister of Home Affairs, Mr R. A. Parkhill. Minister of Health, Mr C. W. Man - . Vice-president of the Executive Council and probable Minister in charge of development, Senator M'Lachlan. Four honorary Ministers to bo selected from Messrs Stanley Bruce, Massy Greene, Francis, and Perkins.

MR LYONS'S METHODS ATTACKED BY QUEENSLAND MEMBER. SYDNEY, December 31. A Queensland meniber of the House of Representatives, Mr Hunter (Country Party), from Maranoa, attacks Mr Lyons’s method of forming a Government, and contrasts bis actions with those of Mr Bruce and Mr MacDonald, both of whom consulted the party leaders in similar circumstances. Mr Hunter declares that Mr Lyons is drunk with success and could see none outside his Natioualist following. The Western Australian primary producers declare that Dr Earle Page was justified in refusing a portfolio under Mr Lyons as tho Country Party increased its membership from 10 to 16 on a definite policy of tariff reform. In a matter of such vital importance to primary industries Dr Page was entitled to insist on the Customs portfolio for that party. Newcastle manufacturers, on the contrary, applaud Mr Lyons’s refusal to concede Dr Page’s demand, declaring that any readjustments in the tariff should be in the national interest and not for the benefit of sectional rural communities.

. Tbo ‘Sydney Morning Herald' says: “ Dr Page’s refusal to join the Cabinet is regrettable, as it is likely to produce the impresson that the United and Country parties are not so unanimous in agreement on policy as appeared to be the case during the elections. The country should bo grateful for Dr Page’s fine gesture that a policy of saving Australia is more important than the partition of the sweets of office.” DR EARLE PAGE'S PREDICTION CABINET WILL HAVE SHORT LIFE. SYDNEY, January 1. Dr Earle Page, Leader of the Country Party, returned from Melbourne to Sydney to-day. He discussed tho critical position that has arisen over the selection of the new Cabinet, and expressed the opinion that the Lyons Government would have a short life. He added that the absence of the Country Party from the Ministry was due to the fact that chambers of manufacturers had declared the Country Party “.black” so far as the Customs portfolio was concerned. He emphasised that there was no lack of willingness on the part of the Country Party to lend its whole weight to the Government when dealing with economic and financial problems.

FINAL STATE OF PARTIES SYDNEY, 'January 1. The last of the doubtful election seats has been decided, namely, the Lang seat, which was formerly hold by a Federal Labourite, Mr W. Long. Victory went to the United Australia candidate, Mr A. Dein, whoso majority was 3,593, The runner-up was tho Lang Plan candidate, Mr Mulcahy. The state of the parties in the House of Representatives is now:— United Australia Party 39 United Country Party 16 Independents 2 Federal Official Labour 14 Beasleyites (otherwise State Labour) 4 A strange situation has arisen in the Federal Parliament House as there are not sufficient benches on the right hand of the Speaker to accommodate all tho new Government supporters, and some will have to sit with tho Opposition. This is the first time that this has occurred in tho Federal Parliament. LEADERS' NEW YEAR MESSAGES SYDNEY, December 31. Mr Lyons, as Leader of the United Australia Party, issues a New Year message, in which he describes 1931 as a year of hardship and disappointment, and expresses tho opinion that tho new year will bring brighter days. Ho appeals to the people of the Commonwealth to face it with courage and a full sense of responsibility, and with a

determination to restore conditions of prosperity and greater happiness. He assures the people that the new Government will leave no stone unturned to get as many men back to employment as is humanly possible. ' MR SCULLIN’S MESSAGE. SYDNEY, December 31. Mr J. H. Scullin, in a message to the people before relinquishing the office of Prime Minister, conveyed a message of goodwill to Australia with the hope that the nation would enter on a new period of happiness and prosperity in 1932. THE COUNTRY'S DIFFICULTIES DR PAGE'S ADVICE. ' SYDNEY, January 2. (Received January 2, at 10 a.m.) In a later interview Dr Earle Page said: “It is impossible for Australia to get out of her difficulties until there is a fixed determination on the part of the Government to make the land industries profitable, The members of the Country Party will avail themselves of the opportunity while free from the cares of office to visit the other States, and-tell people exactly what was happening in New South Wales, and also outline a cure. There can be no real economic health in Australia while twotlnrds of Am tiaim’s population living in New South V; <es is suffering from economic and industrial stagnation due 1 1 Langism and the inability of producers to obtain relief from the present burdens.”