CENSURE MOTION

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1944, Page 5

CENSURE MOTION

In Federal House DEFEATED 40—21. (Rec. 11.20). CANBERRA, Nov. 29. Tne Opposition censure motion was deieateo uy 4U votes’ to 21 m tne Feaerai House. Alleging trial autnority of law was being undermined by tne Federal Government, the Leader of the opposition, Mr Menzies, introduced ms censure motion to-day. lie said: “Industrially w 7 e are passing rap.dly into a state of anarchy, ana the Government has no policy except one or winning,protect and teeble but strictly verbal indignation.” He moved his censure motion on five grounds. He directed an important part of his attack against tne Minister for Infarmation, Hon. Mr Callwell. He severely castigated him for his remarks made about tne judiciary in Parliament last week. He wild the Minister made a defamatory attack on. Justices Rich and Starke of the High Court. It had been contemptible, particularly as it was mt.de tinner cover of privilege. He said it was the ■ essence of responsible government that Cabinet Ministers speaking in the House were spokesmen for the Government. The whole Government therefore must take responsibility for what Mr C'allwell had said in the House. Mr Menzies charged the Government with attempting to put coal tribunals beyond the control of the High Court, with interference in discretionary powers of the Maritime Industries Commission, and with failure to enforce law against war-time strikers.

A general denial was given to Mr Menzies’ allegations by the ActingPrime Minister, Mr F. M. Forde. He declared: “It is absolutely fantastic to say that the Government had attacked the High Court.” This drew an interjection of “Hear hear” from Mr Callwell. It was followed by continued laughter from Opposition benches, and the Speaker, Mr Rosevear, said he would remove the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition, Mr Harrison, unless order were maintained.

Mr Forde said the Government had implicit confidence in the High Court. Mr Menzies- had failed to substantiate his charge that the Government had not enforced the law against wartime strikers. There had been stoppages in the coal industry, but in the last three years the coal production had amounted to 35,360,000 tons, compared with only 30,316,000 tons for the previous three years-, when Mr Menzies’ Government was in office. Because of the Government’s majority in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate the censure motion had no chance of success. It was merely an Opposition formal- protest against recent administrative decisions. It was defeated by 40 to 21. TAKEN UP. CHALLENGE TO MR CALLWELL. (Rec. 11.25). MELBOURNE, Nov. 29. The Hon. Arthur Augustus Callwell, Federal Minister for Information, today took out a writ, from the High Court, Melbourne, claiming £25,000 damages from Brian Penton, the Editor of the Sydney “Daily Telegraph” for alleged libel in a “Telegraph” editorial published on November 25. The “Telegraph” said: “This is not the first time we have called Mr Callwell a’ liar. Unfortunately his ies are always spoken under privilege of Parliament, where he is protected from law. We invite Mr C'allwell to take action against us. That statement should be worth £lO,OOO at least —if a Court will give him the verdict.” Mr Callwell claims that, as- a result of this publication, he has been held up to public hatred, ridicule and contemot.