Country Party Split Reported Sn Victoria

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1948, Page 5

Country Party Split Reported Sn Victoria

MELBOURNE, Thu. (Noon) —After a night of tension in the Victorian Parliament, the Country Party is reported to have split over the issue of support to the Liberal Premier (Mr Hollway).

An authoritative source says that the breakaway section will form an Independent Country Party which will support the Hollway Government.-

The members of this body are not yet known, but are believed to be sufficent to enable Mr Hollway. who already commands 28 seats in a House of 64. to govern without fear of reverse at the hands of the Opposition consisting of Labour and the rump of the Country Party. In the Legislative Assembly last night eight bills were passed without division and supply was granted the Liberal Government until June 30. The Liberal Ministers then believed the Country Party members were unwilling to call a division because of the fear that it would reveal a schism in their ranks.

Later the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly was asked to provide party' room accommodation for a fourth party. The request was for a room capable of holding “substantial numbers.” The breakaway group is believed to be led by members of the Upper House, Messrs Lienhop and Lansell, the former of whom was Minister of Mines in the Liberal-Country Partycoalition. The actual formation of the new party may be delayed as the Horise will go into recess tomorrow night.