VICTORIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3997, 30 July 1913, Page 5

VICTORIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

AN ABRUPT TERMINATION. EMPHATIC LIBERAL MEETING. CUNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION- OOPYII4HT.] (Received July 30, 12.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 29. The State political crisis has abruptly terminated. A meeting of Liberals outside the Ministry adopted a series of resolutions that the best interests of the party would be served by allowing the want of confidence motion to lapse, and that, while willingly recognising the leadership of Mr. Watt, they consider that the Government, as constituted, does not represent the best judgment of the party, and therefore the Government should frankly acknowledge the .situation and give Mr. Watt a. free hand to reconstruct the Government. When the Assembly met Mr. McLeod requested the withdrawal of his want-of-conffi!ence motion, but the acting leader of the Labor Party blocked its withdrawal. Mr. McLeod and seven other Liberals thereupon left the Chamber, and. t-lie House divided, and the want-of-eonfidenee motion was negatived by 32 votes to 19, the" minority consisting of the Labor party and one Liberal. In veiw of the. tone of the resolutions which tlie Liberal meeting adopted, it is believed that another crisis is pending.