FEDERAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1923, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS.

SEEKING AN AGREEMENT. HUGHES WILL STAND DOWN. IF, COALITION FORMED, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 19, 1.20 a.m. Melbourne, Jan. 18. The conference between the Nationalists and the Country Party, seeking to arrange a working basis, was resumed to-day, but ended without any decision being reached. It resumes tomorrow. The crux of the position is that the Nationalists desire a coalition, while the Country Party want a working agreement. It is stated that Mr. Hughes has announced that he is prepared to stand down from the leadership in order to permit the anti-Labor forces governing the country, but only on condition a Coalition is formed. It is understood the Country Party is unlikely to agree to this.

Mr. Bruce, the Treasurer, is prominently mentioned in connection with the leadership.

FEASIBILITY OF COALITION. MR. HUGHES NOT FAVOURED. Melbourne, Jan. 17. A lengthy conference between the National and Country Parties’ delegates was held to-day. Most careful precautions were taken to exclude the press. Mr. Hughes and Dr. Earle Page both declined to supply information, blit it is understood the proceedings plainly indicated increasing strength of the Country Partyites’ decision not to join a coalition if Mr. Hughes retained the leadership. After the conference of National and Country Parties’ delegates it was ascertained that although the latte;* will not consent to 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 meets again to-day. At a meeting of the Country Party it was decided that delegates to the conference should not urge the granting of portfolios to the Country Party, but if members of the party were to take office in any composite Ministry, Dr. Earle Page must be Prime Minister. It was also decided that should Dr. Earle Page not be Prime Minister, members of the party would not accept any portfolios in another Ministry, but would bo prepared to support a Cabinet led by the Treasurer, Mr. Bruce. QUEENSLAND SENATORS. Brisbane, Jan. 18. Messrs. Reid and Thmpson, Nationalists, hove been elected to the third and fourth Senate seats, thus giving all four Queensland vacancies to Nationalists.