LABOUR POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24603, 10 May 1941, Page 10

LABOUR POLICY

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT CENSURE MOTION JJNUiqELt MR FADDEN'S NE^STATUS (Air Mail)," SYDNEY. J^yJ-^ The Australian labour-Party leader, Mr J. Curtin, is expected to stake his leadership against any move to launch a censure motion against the Government when the Federal parliament meets on May 14. : '. ' ■ ■_■•' • ;■"" On the eve of the opening of-Parlia-ment the Australian Labour caucus will meet to discuss its attitude ;to r wards the Government's policy, in the Greek campaign. Militants have been campaigning for t a censure, .motion to strive for a straight-out Labour: G° ernment, bu' Mr Curtin has made it clear that if he is defeated in caucus his leadership of the party will automatically be involved. Mr Curtin's Firm Staiid Another section of the party is known to< favour ..joining a*[National Government, but Mr Curtin: is unwaveringly opposed to any alteration in the present political, alignment. He is likely to have the support of at least a dozen members who' had slender majorities in the elections in September, and who fear they would lose their seats in a new election, which would follow the defeat of ..the Government on a jensure motion.'. Indications are that the caucus will overwhelmingly reject the Government's latest offer to join a National Government, and at the same time reaffirm its confidence in Mr Curtin's leadership. To those who have worked and hoped for a National Government such an unequivocal rejection by caucus would be a deep disappointment. Many thought that the real stumbling block to political unity was the distrust and dislike of the Labour rank and file of Mr Menzies's leadership. Since there is every likelihood of Mr Menzies;s services being retained in England, it was thought that fresh overtures would meet with a kindlier response. Mr Fadden's H:nd Strengthened Mr Menzies's prolonged absence, however, has strengthened the hand of his deputy. Mr A. W. Fadden. A year ago Mr Fadden did not even hold Cabinet rank, but in the fight for the leadership of the Country Party between warring factions, he was appointed as a stop-gap. Mr Menzies's departure gave him his chance, and when the question of the Country Party leadership c.rose at the annual conference his position was affirmed. The amalgamation in. Queensland, to which State he belongs, of the United Australian Party and Country Party, into the Country-National Party, brings him into the front line as a successor to Mr Menzies Mr. Fadden's chief difficulty as a potential national leader has been his Country Party label, but as an accredited representative of the United Australia Party, as well as the Country, Party, would''haye-a new status.