FEDERAL LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23326, 20 April 1939, Page 11

FEDERAL LEADER

A NARROW VICTORY DEADLOCK POSSIBLE COUNTRY PARTY REVOLT GENERAL ELECTION TALK By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 19, 9.40 p.m.) CANBERRA, April 19 It is reported that at yesterday's meeting of the United Australia, Party to choose the new Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies had only a narrow victory of three or four votes over Mr. W. M. Hughes, but the actual figures were not disclosed. The Country Party has decided that it will not co-operate in a coalition Government led by Mr. Menzies. The party has issued an ultimatum to that effect and has proposed that a joint meeting of the two parties should bo held to elect a Prime Minister on the understanding that only a member of the United Australia Party should be eligible. It is believed that there is onl£ a very slender prospect of this proposal being adopted. It is widely expected that a general election will be necessary shortly. It is reported that Mr. S. M. Bruce's offer to lead a National Government if required, was deferred for the. present. Mr. Menzies had a bad fall on the steps of Parliament Buildings while he was proceeding to the party meeting yesterday. He chipped an elbow, requiring hospital treatment, and appeared at the meeting in the afternoon with the injured arm in a sling. The representative of the Sydney Sun at Canberra reports that Sir Earle Page, acting-Prime Minister, to-day declined to give any indication regarding the advice he will give the GovernorGeneral, Lord Gowrie, to-morrow. Sir Earle Page has not taken Mr. Menzies into his confidence, and a number of Government supporters fear he will endeavour to jeopardise Mr. Menzies' prospects of being granted a commission to form a Government. The general expectation is that Mr. Menzies will be. commissioned to form a Government and that the Country Party will refuse to be represented in it.

DIFFICULT FUTURE LONDON COMMENT TIMES ON THE SELECTION QUALITIES OF MR. MENZIES (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 18 Commenting in a leading article on the selection of Mr. R, G. Menzies as Prime Minister of Australia, the Times says that Mr. Menzies will not easily secure Sir Earle Page's support, which is necessary in order to avoid a general election, the chief difficulty being the national insurance scheme. Mr. Menzies perhaps lacks some of the qualities which made Mr. Lyons an ideal coalition leader, including his gift for compromise and his capacity to divine his fellow-countrymen's thoughts and feelings. However, Mr. Menzies' force of character and great intellectual powers, and his wido knowledge of men and affairs, inside and outside the Commonwealth, justify the hope that he will prove an admirable Prime Minister in a difficult time. Mr. S. M. Bruce was not nominated, says the article, which is just as well, because it would have been hard to find an equally satisfactory High Commissioner.