POLITICAL CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVII, Issue 91, 21 April 1939, Page 3

POLITICAL CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA

SIR E. PAGE ATTACKS MR MENZIES. CANBERRA, April 20. A first-class Federal political crisis loomed to-day when Sir Earle Page, speaking in the House of Representatives on the motion for the adjournment, attacked the newly elected leader of the United Australia Part}', Mr Menzies. The substance of Sir Earle Page’s attack was, first, that Mr Menzies had resigned from the Lyons Government at a time when Australia was spending untold millions in getting ready for war; secondly, that before resigning, he made a speech which was interpreted as an attack upon his own leader; and thirdly, that, in 1915, he resigned from the military forces and did not go overseas for war service. Sir Earle Page emphasised that the change of leadership of the United Australia Party had wrought a change in the relationship between the two Government parties. Australia needed a leader in whom the utmost confidence could he placed. He must have a public record such as would inspire the people to the maximum national effort in a time of emergency. Sir Earle Page indicated that, with Mr Menzies as leader and as possible Prime Minister, it • would be quite impossible to continue the Cabinet relations hitherto existing between the two Government parties, and that was the advice he intended giving the Governor-General. During Sir Earle Page’s address the House was in an uproar. Mr Menzies was cheered on rising to reply. He declared that the door to co-opera-tion had been closed, bolted and barred, for reasons not only offensive and personal, but paltry. Mr Menzies closed his reply by saying". “In the discharge of my duties as a leader I hope to exhibit none of the miserable qualities suggested by the retiring Prime Minister in one of the most remarkable attacks on my public career.” Mr Menzies was cheered in all parts of the House. DEEP RESENTMENT. Sir Earle Page’s speech is reported to have causes deep resentment even among his own party supporters, some of whom intend to seek an explanation and may even demand his resignation from the leadership of the Country Party. Sir Earle Page later tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and Mr Menzies was invited to see the Governor-General, Lord Gowrie. MR MENZIES TO FORM CABINET. CANBERRA, April 20. The Governor-General, Lord Gowrie, this afternoon granted a commission to Mr R, G. Menzies, recentlyelected leader of the United Australia Party, to form a Commonwealth Ministry following the resignation of

Sir Earle Page as interim Prime Minister. , It was officially stated that the Governor-General had acted on the advice of Sir Earle Page, who afterward discussed the position with members of his party. Mr Menzies, who expects to leave for Melbourn to-night, will announce the new Cabinet on Monday, all the members of which will be drawn from the United Australia Party, it is understood that he will strengthen it by the inclusion of some younger m on.