DUNSTAN MINISTRY DEFEATED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23316, 27 September 1945, Page 5

DUNSTAN MINISTRY DEFEATED

Victorian Assembly <7.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Sept. 26. The Dunstan Ministry was defea’.e tn the Victorian legislative Assembly last night on a noconfidence motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr John Cain). The voting was 29 votes 26. The defeat was caused by five Liberal Party members crossing the floor to vote. A general election is possible, but not likely. Immediately after the vote the Leader of the Liberal Party (Mr T. T. Hollway) announced his resignation. Mr A. A. Dunstan, who leads the Country Party has headed th” Country Party Ministries with unofficial support from Labour and composite Ministries ot the Countiy ano the United Australia (later Liberal) Parties. Although Liberals are how allied in his Ministry, he recently lost >he support of some cf his own Country Party followers and a recent noeonhaenee mi. io:, ~v Mr Cain was nar ro’”!v defeated The consequences of the defeat of the Victorian State Government lite on Tuesday night is still uncertain tonight. The Premier (Mr A. A. Dunstan i interviewed the Governor (Sir Winston Dugan > to-day, but it is not known yet what advice he tendered. A dissolution is generally expected. The defeat resulted from a Labour move to reduce the estimates. Five members of the Liberal Party, two Independents and two members of the Country Party, who were expelled' from the Country Party last week, voted with Labour. The crisis is the culminating act of a long period of confused political affairs in Victoria. Mr Dunstan has now been Premier for 10 years. The present Government led by him consists of a composite Liberal-Country Partv administration, but for some time there have' been strong dissatisfied elements in both the Liberal and Country Parties against Mr Dunstan’s leadership. alleging inaction and lack of progressiveness The Liberal and Labour Parties are both anxious for elections, especially in view of the recent changes in electoral boundaries, which they believe will operate against the Country Party The rebellious section of the Country Party is also anxious to see the end of Mr Dunstan’s leadership. An unusual feature of the crisis is that, if a dissolution is granted. Parliament will be without funds, as befor” the adjournment on Tuesday the House refused to grant two months’ supply. The present sunplv expires on Sunday