ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 14 August 1941, Page 5

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

MR MENZIES’S COMING VISIT TO LONDON Melbourne. Aug 13. While it js believed that the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Curtin, is prepared to agree to the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies. going abroad as Prime Minister, he will await the views of his party before declaring himself A section of the Labour members is planning to defeat the move especially if Mr Menzies’s stay in England is likely to be prolonged. In that case an clfort will be made to have the Treasurer. Mr ' Fadden. appointed and vested with the full powers of the Prime Ministership. The most interesting aspect of Mr Menzies’s projected transfer to London, according to political writers, is that it may rule out the danger of a crisis arising in Parliament which would lead to a General Election. At to-morrow's meeting of the War , Advisory Council Labour member.- are j expected to challenge Mr Menzies’s : l ight to go to London again as Prime i Minister. Mr Beasley, a Labour member of the council, to-day said he was not aware ! of any changed conditions concerning j the Far East which would warrant Mr Menzies going to London. Moreover, if the position in the Far East was as seri--1 ous as Mr Menzies made out. then his (place was in Australia, not London, i Dr Evatt. another Labour member jof the council, expressed a similar ! i It is understood that Mr Menzies ; is arranging to travel by the first avail- ' able Clipper so that he can confer with President Roosevelt on the journey ■ U.P.A.