VICTORIAN POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 19 July 1924, Page 5

VICTORIAN POLITICS

RESIGNATION OF CABINET

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Auetialian and N.Z. Gable Association.)

MELBOURNE, This Day. Mr Allan, Leader of the Country Party, is discomfited over the action of tho Governor in sending for the Leader of the Labour Party to form a Ministry. Prior to the defeat of the Government Mr Allan declined to listen to overtures from Sir Alexander Peacock’s followers that he should forestall Mr Prendergast (Leader of the Labour Party) .by challenging the Ministry, apparently believing that whatever happened the Governor would send for him. Militant members of the Country Party express gratification at the advent of Labour into office. It is feared that if the more moderate members, beaded by Mr Allan, assume a hostile attitude towards Labour the Country Party wi’l be disrupted.

Mr Prendergast has announced his ministry, which: will be constituted as follows: —Mr Prendergast, Premier and Treasurer; Mr Tunnecliffc Chief Secretary; Mr Lemmon, Education and Labour; Mr Hogan, Agriculture and Railways ; Mr Bailey, Lands and Water Supnlv; Mr Slater, Attorney-General and Solicitor-General; Mr Jones, M.L.C., Public Works, Health , and Immigration ', Mr Macnamara, M.L.C., Mines and Forests; honorary ministers, Messrs Cain and Webber : members of the Assembly, Messrs Beckett and Disney, Legislative Councillors:' Mr Jewell, Government Whip. I

QUEENSLAND OPINION

BRISBANE, This Day

While the Queensland authorities generally seem seriously to disbelieve the Douglas Mawson story, immediate, steps will be taken to obtain the fullest information from Port- Darwin police. It is pointed out in official circles that a most careful search was made of the Gulf waters by the State without avail, and only recently the police from Port Darwin traversed the coast in the vicinity following the discovery of wreckage. Ono State authority says that- many of these aboriginals had worked on stations and were generally friendly. lie considers it impossible that such murders could have been committed and women abducted without tidings leaking out, .in a. few weeks, instead of fifteen months.