GESTURE TO LABOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22066, 12 September 1941, Page 5

GESTURE TO LABOUR

(Rec. 1.30 am.) BRISBANE, Sept. 11. Addressing the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce to-day, the Prime Minister (Mr A. W. Fadden) offered Labour what practically amounts to a 50-50 share in moulding the Government’s policy in return for political stability. He declared that while Australia apparently could not have a national government it could have such a government in substance. He was convinced that some parts of Labour policy could with advantage be adopted. The new policy would necessarily be a corelation and adjustment of the policies of the two major parties in the Federal Parliament. Although little has been heard from Labour critics on the Federal political situation since Mr Menzies’ resignation, developments are expected when the Federal Labour Party’s executive meets In Sydney next week before the reassembling of Parliament. The Press is saying that the executive is likely to take the view that it would be unwise for Labour to attempt to govern during the war when the introduction ®>f unpopular legislation is both necessary and inevitable, but that it would be better to capitalise the Governments unpopularity at an election after the crisis has passed.