POLITICAL SHOWDOWN

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1942, Page 4

POLITICAL SHOWDOWN

LIKELY IN AUSTRALIA Curtin and Hughes (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) i Rec. 11.50) SYDNEY, Aug. 19. A controversy over the censorship, combined with the Opposition Party s recent, criticism of certa.n Federal Ministers responsible for industrial reorganisation may provoke a major political showdown in Australia. The Prime Minister. Mr Curtin, has declared: “Parliament can either accept my administration or get another one.” Observers consider that Mr Curtin's declaration means that the Government would welcome, during the coming session of Parliament, any political test, and possibly to lengtns involving a general election, as soon as the war circumstances would permit. Mr Curt-n’s remarks have been provoked by recent complaints by the ueputy-Leader of the Opposit.on, Mr W. M. Hughes, that ne (Mr i Hughes) had been a victim of “poli- . tical censorship.” These complaints; have been followed by wide newspaper contioversy. I "While Parliament accepts my administration, I expect support from 1 all sections of the country,” said the ■ Prime Minister. “I do not expect consistent sniping from men who, I when in office, practised every one of Hie vices which they, apparently, are now discovering. ‘•I am more than ever convinced that the Japanese had some knowledge of the Solomons attack. Tnere were men yelling for offensives — when they knew that these were being. undertaken! I shall treat any attack on the Government in relation to the conduct of the war as a vital issue. I am not going to wait six months for crumbling and whiteanting to set in!” In a statement on the censorship, Mr Curtin said that all of the external communications and regulations were formulated by the Menzies Government, of which Mr .Hughes was a member, and the present Government was standing to them. The Chief Public.ty Censor, Mr E. G. Bonney was carrymg out this work w.th “great capacity and patriotilsm.” j It is known that members of the ; Cabinet desire to have a general election as soon as one can be contrived. They believe that the result cf an, election would be a substantial j Labour majority. The present Government, which was elected in September, 1949, still has a year to run. . i Following on Mr Curtin’s remarks the Leader of the Opposition, Mr fadden, has announced that he is calling a special meeting of the Opposition Parties’ executive. He said that the Opposition Parties desired' to combat attempts to introduce socialism without an electoral mandate. . i

Mr Warwick Fairfax has resigned from the Australian Press Advisory Committee on Censorship, consequent on Mr Hughes making compalints of “political censorship” on despatches containing his statements sent be'.ond Australia.

Mr Hughes’s statements were cabled to New Zealand. They were not cut by the censor. Realising that New Zealand has a vital interest in Australian matters, as well that common war problems are shared by the two Dominions, the Australian censorship authorit es have recently agreed that the regulations governing the publication in New Zealand of' all news from this source should be the same as those for publication w thin Australia.