AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18765, 19 January 1923, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS

COUNTRY PARTY’S ATTITUDE. WILL NOT ACCEPT MR HUGHES. Press Association—By Telegroph—Copyright MELBOURNE, January 17. A lengthy conference between the National and Country Parties’ delegates vwus held to-day. Most careful precautions were taken to exclude the press. Mr Hughes and Dr Earle Page both declined to supply information, but it is understood that the proceedings plainly indicated the increasing strength of the Country Party members’ decision not to ioin the Coalition if Mr Hughes retained the leadership. MELBOURNE, January 18. After the conference it was ascertained that although the Country Party will not consent to support a Ministry under Mr Hughes, they are hopeful of an agreement being reached for the formation of a strong anti-Labour Ministry under some other leader. The conference will meet again to-day. At a later meeting of the Country Party it was decided that the delegates to the conference should not urge tne granting of portfolios to the Country Party, but if the members of the party were to take office in any composite Ministry, Dr Earle Page must be Prime Minister. It was i also decided that should Dr Earle Page not be Prime Minister members of the parly would not accept portfolios in another Ministry’, but would be prepared to support a Cabinet led by the Treasurer (Mr Bruce). NO DECISION REACHED. MELBOURNE, January 18. (Received Jan. 19, at 1.20 a.m.) The conference between the NationalI ists and the Country Party, which is seckI ing to arrange a forking basis, was resumed to-day, and ended without any decision being reached. It will be resumed to-morrow. The crux of the position is that the Nationalists desire a Coalition while the Country Party wants a working agreement. It is stated that Mr Hughes annouiited that he was prepared to stand down from the leadership, in order to permit the antiLabour forces to govern the country, but only on condition that a Coalition was formed. It is understood that the Country Party is unlikely to agree to this. Mr Bruce (Treasurer) is prominently mentioned in connection with the leadership. SENATE ELECTIONS. BRISBANE, January 18. Messrs Reid and Thompson (Nationalists) were elected to the third and fourth Senate seats, thus giving all four Queensland vacancies to the Nationalists.