FEDERAL CRISIS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 September 1929, Page 5

FEDERAL CRISIS.

MINISTRY DEFEATED BY ONE VOTE.

HUGHES SUCCEEDS ON ARBITRA- . TION COURT ABOLITION ISSUE.

GENERAL ELECTION MUST FOLLOW.

i (Received This Day, 2 a.m.) ' CANBERRA, This Day

■ Unexpectedly, the vote on the vital amendment moved by Mr W. M. Hughes to the Maritime Industries Bill, that The ..Commonwealth should postpone the abolition of the Arbitration Court until a;,referendum or a general election is held, jvas taken to-day in the Federal Parliament. ,

The Prime Minister had told the .House the vote would be taken not later than Thursday night. The amendment was carried by 35 votes to-S4, and the Government was thus defeated.

The Prime Minister immediately secured the adjournment of the House to enable the Government to consider .the position. A general election is inevitable. LAST MINUTE DEFECTION GAVE NEEDED VOTE. IFOUR OF BRUCE'S PARTY VOTE WITH HUGHES. /Received This Day, at 2 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The defeat of : the Commonwealth Ministry capsed a sensation. It was generally anticipated that Mr Bruce would just manage to triumph by one vote, but an eleventh hour defection on the part of Mr Marks, whb represents Wentworth (N.S.W.), enabled Mr Hughes to bring about the Government’s downfall. Other members of Mr Bruce’s party who recorded adverse votes, along witli Mr Hughes, ■were Messrs Stewart, Mann and McWilliams.

In the course of his speech to-day, Mr Bruce made it clear he would recommend a dissolution if the amendment were carried. He could conceive of no other alternative.