DISSOLUTION ASKED

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1940, Page 5

DISSOLUTION ASKED

VICTORIAN PREMIER Objects to Outside Dictation [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received February 14, 12.5 a.m.) MELBOURNE, February 13. The Premier of Victoria Mr. Duni stan, saw the Governor, Sir Winston a Dugan, to-day, and presented a case ’ for the dissolution of the State (. Parliament and an early election. Trouble has been developing for ’ some time in Mr. Dunstan’s Country Party Government, which holds ’ office with the support of the Labour ’ Party. The Central Council of the ' Country Party, which is the administrative section of the Party, as dis- ! tinct from the Parliamentary section, has made many recent attempts to ’ dominate the Ministers. This they ' did to such an extent that Mr. Dunstan last week made an extensive tour of Victoria, denouncing what he described as attempts at “outside dictation.” Some members of the Parliamentary Party are supporters of the I Central Council, but the majority | are not. The dispute was brought to a head recently, when the Ministry refused to reappoint Mr. A. E. Hocking, the former President of the Central Council as Commissioner of the State Savings Bank. Several motions have since been placed on the agenda at the annual conference of the Party, demanding that all future appointments to State positions should be Country Party members. Mr. Dunstan now desires to seek a i mandate from a people to continue to govern without dictation from 1 outside sources. i The Governor’s reply is expected later to-night. DISSOLUTION GRANTED ’ (Received February 14, 1.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, February 13. A dissolution has been granted. The general election will be on March 16. 16.