BY ONE VOTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1943, Page 4

BY ONE VOTE

OPPOSITION NO CONFIDENCE MOTION DEFEATED IN FEDERAL HOUSE. ELECTION DESIRED BY ALL PARTIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day After a debate lasting through a second all-night sitting, the Federal House of Representatives, at 6 o’clock this morning, rejected by a single vote the Opposition motion of no-confidence in the Curtin Government. The voting was 27 to 26. Several members were paired. The House had been sitting continuously since 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. Forty members spoke in an acrimonious debate. Political commentators believe that hopes of further cooperation between the Government and the Opposition parties for the prosecution of the war'have further receded as a result of the debate, and say there is increasing evidence that the members of all parties favour an early election.

The “Sydney Morning Herald’s” political correspondent suggests that the Curtin Government may abandon the plan to introduce its Unemployment and Health Insurance Bill during the present parliamentary session, preferring to hold it as election bait. The Opposition majority in the Senate would certainly oppose the non-con-tributory nature of the Bill, which is regarded by the Government as vital. On Friday the Senate is due to debate a Bill to extend the franchise to all members of the Australian fighting forces, irrespective of age. The Senate opposition is expected to amend this Bill by stipulating-that the vote be given only to those members of the forces who have served overseas oi’ in certain mainland combat areas. Such an amendment may be acceptable to the Government. CHARGE REPUDIATED. In the concluding hours of the noconfidence debate Mr Curtin promised investigation into allegations by the Minister of Labour, Mr E. J. Ward, that an important War Cabinet document had disappeared. The missing document is alleged to have concerned a defence plan evolved while the Menzies Government was in office. Mr Ward implied that the document concerned the Brisbane Line and that it had disappeared before the Curtin Government took office. In demanding an inquiry the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Faddon, said unless Mr Ward’s allegation was investigated and the Minister disciplined, Opposition members could not continue to serve on the Advisory War Council. Mr Curtin had earlier repudiated Mr Ward’s charge and stated that he knew of no missing War Cabinet documents. How-

ever, political correspondents say that Mr Ward insists on the authenticity of his information, although he has declined to divulge its source. The Prime Minister is expected to make a further statement on the matter later in the week. “Mr Ward will have to substantiate the aspersions with which he has been so free or else resign his portfolio,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald” editorially today, declaring that his statements have shown “a reckless disregard for ministerial decency in public debate.”