A CLOUDED HORIZON

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 80, 13 March 1931, Page 5

A CLOUDED HORIZON

POLITICS IN AUSTRALIA FEDERAL LABOUR PARTY BITTERLY AT WAR FATE OF SCULLIN'S REIGN IN THE BALANCE The Scullin Government in Australia awaits the verdict under a no-confidence motion while the Federal Labour Party continues to war within itself. * CANBERRA, March 12. The Federal Labour Party to-day, by 34 votes to 3, decided that the newly-elected East Sydney member, Mr Ward, was not eligible to sit, or take part in. the Labour Caucus. What is known as the “Lang Faction,” Messrs Beasley, Lazzarini and Eldridge, and Senators Rae and Dunn, did not vote, but hurried to an adjoining room, where they held a secret conference. The question now being keenly discussed is how this small group will vote on the censure motion. They received instructions from the State Executive of the Labour Party to do nothing to force the Scullin Government out of office. The fact remains that they were not in their places when the no-confidence debate was resumed in the afternoon. The vote, however, is not being taken until to-morrow. Negotiations are now proceeding for the formation of a Lyons Government, or, alternatively, a Lyons-Latham Government. Lyons Group Will Gain. Even if the Government survives a no-confidence motion members of the Lyons group expect to gain one or two additional adherents from the ranks of the Government. The atmosphere in the lobbies to-day is tense. It is agreed, on all sides, that the days of the Scullin Ministry are numbered. Some members are already preparing for an early election. It is learned that even if the Government wins through on the votes of the men pledged to the Lang repudiation proposals the Senate will decline to transact any Government business, thus bringing matters to a swift climax. The Senate holds that the Government has forfeited all right to carry on. Arising opt of the secret conference Mr Beasley later issued a statement announcing that in view of the party’s decision in regard to Mr Ward, who recently won the by-election on Mr Lang’s repudiation policy in opposition to Mr Theodore’s policy of inflation, it necessarily followed that he, and Messrs Lazzarini, Eldridge and James (the latter is also a Lang adherent), and Senators Rae and Dunn should no longer be admitted to the party meetings. Therefore, they could no longer be expected to be associated wijh, or responsible for, decisions. POSSIBILITY OF DEFEAT. SYDNEY, March 12. The Evening News, commenting upon the political crisis at Canberra, says it is now possible that the Scullin Government will be defeated on a no-confidence motion. In addition to the known supporters of Mr Lyons it needs only four Labour members to cross the floor to cause defeat, and five more to run the Government against the biggest number of supporters the present Government could rally.