NON-LABOUR FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 25005, 26 October 1943, Page 2

NON-LABOUR FRONT

NEW PARTY IN AUSTRALIA (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Pec. noon.) SYDNEY, Oct. 2G. A new united non-Labour party is expected to be formed in Australia. It is intended to replace and absorb all the existing non-Labour groups in the Commonwealth, including the present Federal Opposition.' The New South Wales United Australia Party Council has unanimously endorsed the plans for this purpose submitted to it !by the Party Reconstruction Committee. This committee has also suggested a new party creed, which includes a home for every family, continuous employment, equal pay for equal work, long-range repatriation planning, and improved sickness, accident and unemployment benefits. The ' Sydney Sun's ' political correspondent says there is absolutely no doubt that the United Australia Party, which provides the bulk of the Federal Opposition, will shortly cease to exist as such, and the new organisation will be formed almost immediately. As the first step towards this end negotiations will now be conducted with the other parties. New South Wales, a formidable Labour stronghold,- will hold its State elections next year, and is expected to become a testing ground for the new party. The United Australia Party appointed a reconstruction committee after its overwhelming defeat at the Federal Elections in August.

No name has been chosen for the new party, but " the Democratic Party of Australia" has been suggested!. The report of the United Australia Party Reconstruction Committee declared that the name " United Australia Party " had " lost its significance " and that in a world requiring a new declaration of human rights the present party constitution wouW require revision, liecause it did not meet the changed conditions. The committee emphasised the need to preserve individual freedom and combat " the grave and sinister trend towards socialisation." and advocated unification of all political groups sharing these aims