Menzies To Seek Election If Senate Again Rejects Anti-Red Bill

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23288, 24 June 1950, Page 5

Menzies To Seek Election If Senate Again Rejects Anti-Red Bill

(N. 7. P. A.—licuter— Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, June 24. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, in a nationwide broadcast last night, said the Federal Government would again present the Communist Party Dissolution Bill to Parliament after the prescribed interval of three months, and either Labour Senators would pass it or

the Government would exercise its constitutional power to ask for a double dissolution,

“Our buttle with Ihe .Senate this week readied its first climax.” lie said “All or most ot' our vital legislation was held up or virtually rejected.” “I say our battle is with the Senate, but, in reality, it is yours. You eniorsed our programme but the Labour Party is using its Senate majority to defeat your instructions, your elected Government and your programme. Nothing more impudent has been witnessed in our political history.” Mr. Menzies said that if ever a Government had had the backing of the people it was oh the vital issue of the Communist Party Dissolution Bill, but the Labour Party, while pretending to support it, had set out to destroy it by making it unworkable. “If war came and the fifth column here had been left undisturbed to do its dirty, deadly work you would blame the Government for inactivity, “You cannot sensibly give us responsibility {without also giving us real power. “Ve all believe in the jury system for the trial of a criminal offence, but in this bill we are seeking to check a conspiracy by removing certain Communists from certain key jobs."

The Government and the Opposition were still completely deadlocked on the Communist Party Dissolution Bill and the Bank Bill when Parliament adjourned early yesterday for the winter recess.

The crisis began when the Government was notified that the Labour majority in the Senate was considering refusing supply unless the Government agreed to an amendment to the Child Endowment Bill. The amendment in the dispute directed the Arbitration Court not to take endowment payments into account when fixing basic wages. The Cabinet met immediately and decided that if Labour tried to force this isue the Government would call for a general election within eight weeks. As soon as the Cabinet decision became known, the Labour executive called an emergency meeting of its members. Viitual Ultimatum Afterwards the deputy** Opposition leader in the Senate. Senator McKenna, took a message to the Government leader that was virtually an ultimatum. ' ~ „ Senator McKenna said the Senate would withhold supply unless the Government took some action to make it clear to the Arbitration Court that Parliament considered the endowment should not be taken into consideration when fixing the basic wage. Both the Labour executive and the Cabinet met near midnight and a series of conferences were held. Then the Labour executive instructed the Labour Senators to pass the supply. A vigorous battle in the Senate ensued, after which a motion for the removal of the amendment was put. Labour men sat silent and the motion was carried on the voices. The Government amendment that the bill should operate from June 19 was then agreed to.