NEW LEADER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 118, 19 April 1939, Page 9

NEW LEADER

MR R. G. MENZIES ELECTED. UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY FOUR CANDIDATES OFFERED (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) CANBERRA, April 17. Mr R. G. Menzies (AttorneyGeneral) was elected leader of the United Australia Party at a full meeting to-day. Mr YV. M. Hughes (Minister for External Affairs) was next in order of choice. Mr Menzies will meet Sir Earle Page (Acting-Prime Minister) tonight to discuss the future of the Government, which will possibly be reconstructed. Four candidates offered themselves for election at the meeting. In addition to Mr Hughes, Mr Menzies and Mr R. G. Casey (Federal Treasurer), a surprise nomination was that of the former Minister of Customs (Mr T. W. White). The High Commissioner in London (Mr S. M. Bruce), who is now in Los Angeles, was not nominated, as it was felt that an invitation for him to stand would have to be practically unanimous to induce him to assent. Sir Earle Page said he had a radiotelephone conversation with Mr Bruce to-day and that Mr Bruce declared ne had no desire to re-enter party politics in Australia, hut would, if required, return to lead a national Government under which he would have the right to select Ministers from any party, including Labour. NARROW VICTORY. MR BRUCE’S OFFER DEFERRED.

Received April 19, 8.5 a.m. CANBERRA, April 18. It is reported that Mr Menzies had only a narrow victory over Mr Hughes by three or four votes. The actual figures are undisclosed. Mr Bruce’s ofler to lend a national Government if required has been deferred for the present. Mr Menzies had a bad fall on the steps of the House of Parliament while proceeding to the Party meeting today, and chipped his elbow which required hospital treatment. He appeared at the Party meeting in the afternoon with his arm in a sling. Hon. R. G. Menzies, appointed Federal Attorney-General in 1934, was formerly At-torney-General and Minister for Railways in tho Victorian Government, but resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Victoria to contest Kooyong, for which Mr J. G. Latham did not seek re-election. Mr Latham was Attorney-General in the previous Lyons Ministry and it was generally understood that when Mr Menzies decided to offer himself for Kooyong he had the assurance that if tho Lyons Ministry were returned he would succeed Air Latham as Attorney-General. It was .in 1923 that he made his entry into politics, 10 years after he was admitted to the Victorian Bar, and he won a seat in the Victorian Legislative Council. He had hardly arrived there when ho was appointed an honorary Alinister in the McPherson Government. After two years he resigned to contest tho Nunawading seat in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, for which he was returned. Later he was appointed Deputy-Premier of Victoria, at the age of 38, and at conferences with the Federal and State Governments he made a good impression as a sound administrator and a man who is keen to serve Australia. Ho was then the youngest man in the Ministry and by common consent, the ablest. His prestige as a constitutional lawyer, and a K.C. and a loading member of tho Victorian Bar. made him an outstanding figure in Viteorlan polities, and from one success to another lie has made a brilliant track. Recently following differences with Cabinet over defence matters. Mr Afenzies resigned when the Government’s national health insurance plan was announced; lie described it as “the last straw.”