FEDERAL CABINET CHALLENGED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 9

FEDERAL CABINET CHALLENGED

BOLDER MEASURES DEMANDED

LABOUR OUTLINES NEW ECONOMIC POLICY

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 31, 11.59 p.m.)

CANBERRA, October 31.

Mr J. H. Scullin, Leader of the Opposition, in the House of Representatives to-day moved an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, which the Government viewed as a no-confidence motion. The House adjourned after the briefest sitting. Mr Scullin moved that the House should express its opinion on the various proposals he had propounded for the relief of unemployment, including extending the activities of the Commonwealth Bank to enable it to make credit available for public works, amending the Arbitration Act with a view to reducing working hours, the restoration of pensions and social services, and the* establishing of a national scheme of organised marketing embracing Australia-wide pools. A similar amendment was moved in the Senate by Senator Barnes, and resulted in an immediate adjournment until November 14. * COALITION MOVEMENT NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING IN CANBERRA United Press Association—By Electric Teleg-aph— Copyright (Received November 1, 1.28 a.m.) CANBERRA, October 31. Negotiations for a Coalition Government are reported to be proceeding at Canberra, and the unity discussions between Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister) and Dr. Earle Page (Leader of the Country Party) are expected to take definite shape tonight.

It is likely that four Government Ministers will be dropped and replaced by Country Party nominees. Owing to to-night’s abrupt adjournment it is unlikely that the new Ministry will be announced until after the Address-in-Reply is disposed of. It is further reported that Dr Page is insisting on the Deputy Prime-Min-istership, which Mr Lyons is disinclined to grant. Alternatively he offers Dr Page the Deputy Leadership of the House of Representatives.

If negotiations fail, the Country Party will force a crisis, in which event the reconstructions of the Ministry is regarded as inevitable.