POLITICAL UNITY

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 4

POLITICAL UNITY

Efforts in Australia COMPROMISE SUGGESTION. MELBOURNE, 'July 20. Proposals for Labour participation in a National Government, on lines which would not conflict with the spirit of Federal conference resolutions favouring a National War Council, are likely to be discussed by the Parliamentary Labour Party in Canberra before Parliament re-assembles on August 6. It is strongly suggested in official Labour circles that the formation of a National War Cabinet, constituted similarly to that set up in New Zealand, might provide an acceptable compromise between a straight-out coalition of Labour, Country Party, and United Australia Party foices, and the War Council idea, which has not found favour with Mr Menzies’ Government.

In the meantime, viewed in the light of unofficial discussions now proceeding in Luaoour raiiKs, great political significance must be attached to a considered statement issued this week by Mr Curtin, Opposition leader In it he said that the Opposition recognised its responsibilities to thei people, and disclosed that further discussions on the Labour conference proposals would take place at the pre-sessional party meeting.

The fact that a Labour Government in New Zealand has been able to achieve an apparently satisfactory degree of political' unity by establishing a National War Cabinet, in which rival parties do not sink their identities, may vitally influence the Labour pre-sessional discussions. Mr Curtin said: —“The questions arising from the decision of the Commonwealth Labour conference that a National War Council should be established will' be dealt with when the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party meets in Canberra next month.”