MR SCULLIN’S LABOUR GOVERNMENT DEFEATED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 281, 26 November 1931, Page 1

MR SCULLIN’S LABOUR GOVERNMENT DEFEATED.

Federal Elections will Probably be held on December 19 Next.

(United Press Association. — By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received November 26, 11.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, November 26. The Federal elections will probably be held on December 19. After refusing to grant a select committee to inquire into the Government’s distribution of Christmas relief work, Mr J. H. Scullin, Prime Minister of Australia, challenged the Opposition parties to an immediate election. The motion for the setting up of the committee, which was moved by Mr J. A. Beasley, a Lang Plan supporter, was then put and carried by thirty-seven votes to thirtytwo. An early dissolution is expected. A London message says that a marked rise in Australian stocks followed the rally in sterling and the news of an early election in Australia.

When the House of Representatives reassembled yesterday afternoon, Mr Beasley moved the adjournment “to discuss the method adopted by the Government in the engagement of labour under the Christmas unemployment scheme, for which £250,000 was being made available.” 'Mr Beasley advocated the appoint' ment of a select committee, elected by Parliament by ballot. He laid a definite charge of political patronage against the Federal Treasurer, Mr E. G Theodore, declaring that the methods of engaging labour were of a political character, giving precedence to the Federal Labour Party’s close sup porters. t The Opposition parties, realising thal by supporting Mr Beasley the Govern ment’s fate would be sealed, held a meeting before the House assembled and decided to support the demand foi an inquiry, provided Mr Beasley could make out a prima facie case. Workers Favoured. Speaking to his resolution, Mr Beas ley said that after the Government an nounced it was advancing £250,000 tc provide work for several thousands be fore Christmas, men were invited tc register for employment, but support ers of the Scullin Government were able to gain several days’ priority, and numbers of men were given employment in Mr Theodore’s electorate, Dailey, in return for their support to Mr Theodore and Mr Scullin and their party. This was also apparent a 1 Cockatoo Island dockyard. Others oi the unemployed, who happened to be Lang men, found the registers full be cause they were not in the know a: to what works would be carried out and were coolly forestalled. Mr Theodore characterised Mr Beas ley’s attack as sheer puerility. He de nied categorically each allegation. An Unholy Alliance. In a statement after the House ad Mr Scullin said that it wa obvious that the combined opposition and the Beasley Group had made uj their minds beforehand to turn th< Government out of office. They hac formed an unholy alliance to achiev< that purpose. The Government coulC not possibly humiliate itself by grant ing either a Royal Commission or ; Parliamentary inquiry on flimsy state ments about this or that person getting priority in a special scheme of relie of unemployment. The fact was tha the Beasley Group was much con fcerned over the success of the recen Federal Labour Party conference a Sydney, and were determined to ge the Government out of office as quicklj as possible. It is anticipated that the Govern ment’s decision in regard to a dissolu tion and election will be made kriowr after the arrival of the Governor General, Sir Isaac Isaacs, who ha: chartered a special train.

. Mr Scullin will wait on the. GovernorGeneral this morning and will ask for a dissolution of Parliament. It is expectetd that his Excellency will grant the request. An election to fill the places of those Senators-' who are due to retire at the end of June will be held simultaneously. Will Not Send for Mr Lyons. Interviewed after the Cabinet meeting last night, Mr Scullin indicated that he would make no request that Sir Isaac Isaacs send for Mr Lyons in an effort to have sfnother Government formed. The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr S. Irwin, interviewed the ’ Attorney-Gen-eral and other Ministers, . nd it is- riot expected that any Aty ‘will be found to prevent election on December 19. It will be the most hurried campaign in Commonwealth history. If, however, electoral arrangements cannot be completed by that time, alternative dates that are likely to be considered for the election are January 9 or January 14. Mr Lang Silent. Mr Lang declined to offer any com- , ment on the position, i Mr Lyons said that from every point of view the election was desirable. The people would now have an opportunity of choosing between the dangerous and unsound financial theories which the Federal Labour Party wish to put into operation and the sound progressive policy of the Opposition, which alone could bring about any permanent alleviation of the present hardships of the people. Mr J. G. Latham stated that an ap- ’ peal to the people was long overdue. 1 The Government had attempted, to introduce legislation, for the . political ’ control of banking and cufrengy, had never been mentioned during the election at which it was returned to power. “ The Opposition,” he said, ■ “ believes that this policy, if carried ’ into effect, will delay indefinitely and 1 disastrously Australia’s return to pros- > ferity.” The Scullin Labour Government was | elected in October, 1929, but the Cabinet was reconstructed in February of this year following Mr Scullin’s return from the Imperial Conference. During r Mr Scullin’s absence in Britain dissen- \ sion sprang up within the party, which J resulted in Mr Lyons deserting and | forming a new political group and sub- . sequently assuming the leadership of ; the official Opposition. Mr Beasley, ■ too, had been a member of Mr Scullin’s . Cabinet, but following the financial crisis he supported Mr Lang’s repudia- . tion plan. He left the Cabinet and . took the leadership of a small group of i New South Wales Labour members. He has opposed the Government on a num- ; ber of occasions this year in its efforts to secure national financial stability.