CABINET CRISIS IN CANADA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19942, 29 October 1934, Page 9

CABINET CRISIS IN CANADA

MINISTER’S AMAZING LAPSE RESIGNATION MAY CAUSE DISSOLUTION United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright OTTAWA, October 26. The fate of the Hon. H. H. Stevens as Minister of Trade hung in the balance to-day following a dramatic Cabinet session during which his colleagues delivered an ultimatum that either he must explain his attack on business, as chairman of the Government Price Spread Inquiry or quit the Commission. The Minister’s publication of a pamphlet commenting on the evidence before the inquiry closed was strongly resented by the Prime Minister (Mr R. B. Bennett), who promotly banned the pamphlet. At the resumption of the Cabinet session to-day Mr Stevens was absent.

MINISTER RESIGNS HINTS OF EARLY DISSOLUTION United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright (Received October 28, 6.30 p.m.) OTTAWA, October 27. The Minister of Trade and Commerce (the Hon. H. H. Stevens) to-day announced his resignation from the Canadian Cabinet, following differences of opinion in Cabinet over Mr Stevens’s actions in connection with mass buying and the price spreads investigation. Mr Stevens’s resignation precipitated a Cabinet crisis, which may lead to a dissolution, and an imminent election. Following a conference with the Governor-General after a secret Cabinet session, the Prime Minister refused to make a statement. Cabinet twice assembled and twice dispersed without a statement.

Mr W. McKenzie King (Leader of the Opposition) is touring Europe, but the Liberals expect his return at once. WINNIPEG, October 27. The Manitoba retail merchants have telegraphed Mr Bennett (Prime Minister) urging that Mr Stevens’s resignation be not accepted. They urge even further investigations into departmental chain stores.