A DISSOLUTION

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1931, Page 5

A DISSOLUTION

IN AUSTRALIA Elections December 19th (Aus. & N.Z. .Cable Assn). CANBERRA, Npvember 26. Following on the'adverse votO' in' the House on Mr Beasley, the Eang follower’s motion, the Federal Ministry has decided to go to the country. Tire Prime Minister, in a statement after the House adjourned, said it was ,obvious that .the combined Opposition and Beasley Group had made up their minds beforehand to turn the Government out of office, and had formed air mihaly alliance to achieve th-e purpose. The ; Government - could not. possibly humiliate itself by granting either a Royal-'Qommission Or a • Parliamentary inquiry on the-flimSy statements about this-or ’ that nersoir gbtting priority in

.the special scheme bf relief employment. The fact was the Beasley Group was much concerned over the success of tho recent Federal .Labour Party Conference at Sydney, and were determined to get the Government out of office as quickly as possible. Mr Scullin will wait on the Gover-nor-General, this morning, and will ask for a dissolution of Parliament. It is expected that His Excellency will grant the request. The Governor-General (Sir I. Isaacs) chartered a special train at Wangaratta (Victoria) to enable him t ( o reach Canberra to-morrow. Interviewed after the Cabinet meeting last night, Mr Scullin indicated that he would make no request that Sir Isaac Isaacs should send for Mr Lyons, in the effort to have another Government formed. ELECTION DATE. CANBERRA, N ( ovembcn 26. The Federal elections will probably )>e held on December 19. The election to fill the places of those Senators due to retire at the end of June will by. held simultaneously. The chief electoral officer (Mr S. Irwin) interviewed the Attorney-Gen-eral and other Ministers, and it is not expected that any difficulty will be found in holding an election on December 19. It will be the most hurried campaign in, the Commonwealth’s history. If, however, electoral arrangements cannot be completed by that time, the alternative dates likely for the election are January 9 or January 16. LANG’S NEXT MOVE. MAY LEAD BEASLEYITES AGAINST GOVERNMENT. CANBERRA, November 26. Th.* atmosphere at tho Federal capital to-night was electrical. The majority of the people hardly expected Mr Beasley’s motion to be pressed to a division, but rather to be talked out, or. that .the anti-Labour forces would range for the downfall of the Government, which has created a sensation throughout Australia. Mr Lang declined to offer any comment on the position. LONDON, November 25. | Mr Willis (Agent-General for New South Wales) said that he would not’ be surprised if Mr Lang led the Beasley Party at the Frderal election. Immediate Dissolution SCULLIN’S REQUEST GRANTED. WiIIRLAVIXD CAMPAIGN. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). (Received November 26 at 7.40 p.m.) CANBERRA, November 26. The Prime Minister, Mr Scullin, today asked the Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs, for immediate dissolution. ' His Excellency’s . assent to the re-1 quest for a dissolution was read to the members in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The announcement was greeted with cheers on both sides of the House. Mr Scullin remained standing, and smiling blandly, waited till the noise had died down. Replying to a question from Mr Latham (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Mr Scullin said that there also would be an election for eighteen Senators. So far, no intimation has been given aft to the election date.

The swiftest election campaign in the history of the Commonwealth is planned. The Labour members consider that they have a better chance of retaining their seats under these circumstances. The officials of the United Australia Party and of the Nationalists' Association declare that they arc quite ready for a whirlwind campaign. OPPOSITION LEADERS. THEIR COMPROMISE WITH LANGITES. CANBERRA, November 26. Mr Lyons said that from every point of view, an election was desirable. The people would now have the opportunity of choosing between dangerous, unsound financial theories, which the Federal Labour Party had put into operation, and the sound progressive policy of the Opposition, which alone can bring about any permanent alleviation of the present hardships of the people. Mr Latham stated that the appeal to the people was long overdue. The Government had attempted to introduce legislation for political control of banking and currency, which was never mentioned during the election, at which it was returned to power. The Opposition believes that this policy if carried into effect would delay indefinitely and disastrously Australia’s return .to prosperity. ATTITUDE OF MONEYED INTERESTS. LONDON, November 25. There was a marked rise in Australian slocks, due to the rally in. sterling, and news of an early election in Australia. It is generally considered that the

British landslide from Labour will produce an important mpral effect ou tire. Australian, vote. The “Daiy Telegraph's” Financial Editor comments, that there was a rise in Australian securities, the City being pleased at the prospect, of an early appeal ;to the country, believing Australia, as Britain, would rally to support a strong National Government. H'e says the return of such a Government would undoubtedly help to revive .shaken confidence in Australia’s financial future. MR. BRUCE’S CANDIDATURE. GOING FOR DANDENONG. LONDON, November 25, Mr Stanley Bruce (former Nationalist Leader) said that he cannot get away for Australia, before the third week of December. He had no intention of flying home. “Anyhow,” he said, “my nomination is all in order for Dandenong. I shall just have to hope that the efforts of good friends will carry me through.” Mr Bruce-said he would not comment on the election prospects . till he was better acquainted with the atmosphere. THE ANTI-LABOUR PRESS. SYDNEY, November 26. Press opinions throughout Australia welcome the downfall of the Scullin [Government, which is the sole topic .of conversation. The reports cqming |to hand from other States indicate Labour will be decisively beaten at the polls. Anti-Labourites UNCERTAIN OF LEADERSHIP. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). SYDNEY, November 26. The question as to who will lead the anti-Labour forces in the election remains to be settled. There is one section not entirely satisfied with Mr Lyons, owing to his Labour leanings and lack of experience in Federal politics. The Nationalist Party in Tasmania has sought to obtain an assurance from him that he has definitely cut adrift from Labour, to which Mr Lyons replied he had automatically expelled himself by his alliance with the opposition. Mr Bruce, who is in London, is being kept well informed of the situation, and he had a radio conversation with Australia overnight. DATE FIXED. CANBERRA, November 26. 'The Prime Minister announced that the Federal election day has been fixed for Saturday, December IQjth. The nominations are closing on December sth. The composition of the Federal parties now is as follows:— Official Labour—3s. Beasley Group," otherwise Lang < Plan Labourites—*s. 1 United Australia Party —33. t Independent—l. < Total—74. ] The Wimmcra seat in Victoria is va-1 • cant, owing to the recent death of Mr ( P. Stewart. The election for the seat ( was fixed for next Saturday, but the writ will now: be withdrawn. The total number of seats in the House of Representatives is 73. SENATE ELECTIONS. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). SYDNEY’, November 26. The senators who will face the electors are largely the oppositionists. The ' Government must win at least fifteen ] of the eighteen seats being contested ; in order to obtain a majority in that chamber, which in the present circum- 1 stances, is regarded as most unlikely.