EVATT SAYS ISSUE IS DEAD, BUT IS IT?

Northern Advocate, 28 October 1949, Page 6

EVATT SAYS ISSUE IS DEAD, BUT IS IT?

BANK NATIONALISATION

SYDNEY. Fri. (11.30 a.m.).—The Sydney Morning Herald Canberra correspondent says the Federal Cabinet is divided on the question of bank nationalisation and that, while the AttorneyGeneral (Dr Evatt) has declared that it will not be fin election issue, political circles regard it as significant that he said this without consultation with other members of Cabinet.

The correspondent adds that Oppo- : tion members expressed astonishment that Dr Evait, who had fought for bank nationalisation through the High Court and Privy Council, should have been in such haste to disavow it. He did not wait for the full text of the Privy Co m 'il findings before announcing flint the issue was dead. It is suggested 'hat Dr Evatt believes that the Privy Council judgment strengthened the 1945 Banking Act. In making the declaration that nationalisation would not. be an election issue, he acted without consulting the Minister of Transport (Mr Ward*, who is the strongest champion in the Cab-

inet of bank nationalisation. The correspondent believes that the Labour Party will be left thoroughly confused on the issue until Mr Chifiev “whose political life is based cn the industrial movement—unlike Dr Evatt’s”—makes a statement. The Federal Opposition leader (Mr Menziesi said that beyond question the Privy Council derision on banking did not protect the trading banks except against legislation in the present form.

"I have no doubt that despite Dr Evatt’s 'hasty disavowals, the Prime Minister means to clean up the trading banks and that, if re-elected, lie can do so," added Mr Menzics.