POLITICAL CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23828, 2 December 1940, Page 8

POLITICAL CRISIS

AUSTRALIAN BUDGET FATE OF GOVERNMENT ADVERSE VOTE POSSIBLE By Telegraph Press Association— Coprrirtt CANBERRA, Nov. 3 J The Menzies Government faces de feat next week unless it can obtain the support of the Victorian I n d e pendent member,, Mr. Wilson, whose attitude to the Budget at present is hostile. Mr. Menzies stated last night that he intended to treat the amendment bv the Labour leader, Mr. J, Curtin » one of no-confidence. ' r 1 It is expected that the for kalgoorbe, Mr. 11. Johnson, won the there recent!,, c r 1 "1 • J.I ' . - V Labour, making tne parties in th House of Representatives' ngain equa ® tu'll attend the sittings next week, r ' suiting in the Government's fate beint dependent on Mr. Wilson. The impression in political circles h that -Air. .Menzies will make some concessions on the Budget and that a m-;" will he avoided. 513 The Canberra correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald says that if tha Federal Ministrv is defeated on the Labour amendment fresh moves probably be made to form a national Government. Several members of the Tru'tcfl An? tialia Party made it clear that th/<would support any leader who made a genuine attempt to form the strongest possible all-party Cabinet. A last minute concession by one side or the other, however, may still save the Menzies Ministry. Labour members are confident th?t the Government will compromise A'' other possibility if the Government is defeated is a sudden general election and officers of the official Labour Partv have been instructed to prepare ior it without delay.

ARMS FROM AMERICA EAST INDIES PURCHASE LARGE QUANTITIES OBTAINED WASHINGTON", Not, 29 The State Department- has disclosed that- it- issued export licences in October for the shipment to the Dutch Ea-i Indies of 11,150.000 dollars' -n-orth of arms and military material, of 8.649.000 dollars' worth was for tanis and armoured cars.' This surprising total, which made tta Dutch Indies among the largest purchasers of United States arms outside Europe," brought the Indies' total purchases for 10 months to 27,044 000 dollars. Australia in October received etporf licences for 1,314,000 dollars' irorii of aircraft engines and parts, making a 10 months' total of 5.238,000 dollars. MORE DESTROYERS

PROPOSAL IN CANADA GRANT OF ALASKAN CORRIDOR Ottawa; Nov. 09 A Canadian defence spokesman admitted that- an international joint commission had been delegated to investigate the feasibility of Canada granting the United States a corridor for a highway to Alaska, in return for the transfer of additional wa-'.,>iiips to Britain. ~ The Director-General of Shipjipg, Mr. D. B. Carswell, said that Canadian shipyards were awaiting word to begin the construction of 18 freighters of 9500 tons for Britain for delivery in October. 1941. A message from Washington says that Canada has arranged to take over 144 military aeroplanes ordered from the Vultee Company for Sweden. The United States did not take part in the discussions, except to issue licences for the export tofCanada. MISSING GERMANS AIR RAIDER SHOT DOWN LONDON. Not. 29 A large area in south-eastern England is being combed for the crew of a German aeroplane which was shot down at Godstone on Thursday. Villagers and air raid wardens are helping to beat the fields and heathlands. Farmers and others are alert in view of the likelihood of the missing airmen soon being obliged to seek food. .

CHRISTMAS UNDER FIRE , 8.8.0. PROGRAMME AIRMEN ON ACTIVE PATROL LOXDOX, Nov. SO "Christmas under fire" trill be the theme of the 8.8.C. Christmas Day broadcast. It will include a broadcast from Australian airmen on active patrol in a Sunderland bomber. After opening with hymns in Canterbury Cathedral, the scene mores to a country house in which evacuee children from London, are living. Tins will be followed by the voices of their fathers, brothers and sisters on active service, and men from the Dominions and Colonies now in Britain, telling their kinsfolk how the fighting forces are celebrating Christmas under fire. The Boyal Air Force will be represented by members of n Dominion air ■ squadron actually on duty. The programme then picks up a patrolling Sunderland crew, which will bo linked with the broadcast control centre through its short-wave radio. The programme jumps next to Palestine. where it will possibly include New Zealanders' changing guard near the Holy Sepulchre, after which the scene moves to a British battleship in the Mediterranean, or nearer Britain. Then the programme returns to the home guard of a lonely headland on the English coast, a .Merseysioe seamen's club, a glimpse of the P°' lS Air Force and the Czech Army. t The final sequences picture Britain s Christmas, contrasting the fun of 311 old English village with a Christmas dinner party in a London air-rai shelter. It lias not yet been decided whether it will be possible for the to broadcast.