LABOUR'S TERMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20385, 23 October 1940, Page 8

LABOUR'S TERMS

CANBERRA PACT SECTIONS OF POLICY . INDUSTRY AND FINANCE WAR COUNCIL PLANS SUPPORT TO CABINET . (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Rccd. Oct. 23, 1.40 p.m.) CANBERRA, Oct. 23. The decision to form an Australian | War Council was reached after the official Labour Party had rejected a Government ofl'er of half the seats in either a National Government or a - War Council or a Cabinet with execit- ■ tive powers. The duties of the Australian War ■ Council will be advisory only. The ‘ council is to consist of four members • from the present Government parties, three official Labour members and one non-communist Labour member. The | Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, or his deputy will preside over the council. i The Government will choose a panel ! of Ministers from which the four . Government representatives on the council will be chosen. Thus the Government personnel on the council • may change from time to time accord- ’ ing to particular phases of the war ’ effort to be discussed. Mr. Menzies to-day made a statement as follows: “In response to pro- ’ posals put forward by the Prime ! Minister, the Federal Labour Party ' submitted a proposal and indicated that it was the best to which the I the party could agree. The GovernI merit's representatives therefore accepted it.” Mr. Menzies added that the Government delegates were disappointed i that some fuller participation in the ; government of the nation could not i be arrived at. United Determination i The official Labour leader, Mr. J. • Curtin, said: “I regard this decision as • an historic one and of the greatest i significance to the united determinai tion of the Australian people and all ' political parties to do their very I ’utmost in a war in which our vet - existence is at stake. “The proposal is genuinely put forward by ourselves, and we shali bring all our abilities and all the resources of the great Labour movement to bear upon the work which the council will do." The leader of the non-Communisl Labour group. Mr. J. Beasley, said: “tVe do not think it was the most effective means of meeting the present situation, but as it is the considered view of the conference that the pro-, •posal be given a trial, we are willin') < to co-operate.” The offer by Mr. Menzies of half the scats in a War Council with executive powers was rejected by the official Labour caucus. The caucus offered instead to participate in an Australian \ War Council on an advisory basis and , gave a guarantee that it would not j embarrass the Government in its war i efforts by using its numerical strength as an opposition. Tiie resolution adopted by the caucus made it clear that, in return for such support, the Labour Party expected the Government to give effect to substantial sections of Labour’s social, industrial and financial policy.