“National Government A National Tragedy”

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1942, Page 1

“National Government A National Tragedy”

—MR. CURTIN CANBERRA, December 17.

“A National Government would be a national tragedy. It would spend its time in disputation and there would be utter inability to reach decisions on major questions. In consequence, the war administration would be in a state of utter confusion."’ In these words the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) today repeated his strong opposition to a National Government for Australia. He added that the War Advisory Council, comprising representatives of all parties, had served Australia well and its deliberations, he considered, represented the maximum agreement which could be reached between party representatives.

Mr Curtin indicated that if the Labour Party split on the “conscription” issue, he would not continue in office with the aid of an all-party administration. Thus the alternative would be an election.

A move by anti-conscriptionists in the party to postpone the Australian Labour Party Conference from January 4 to January 20, which would seriously embarrass the Government, is expected to fail. Mr Curtin added: “The defence of Australia involves the defence of the outer screen of islands adjacent to the mainland, therefore our total resources should be available for that purpose."