AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18975, 28 March 1924, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

OPPOSITION LEADER SPRINGS SURPRISE GOVERNMENT IN AWKWARD FIX A crisis has occurred in the Federal Parliament. After Mr. Bruce had delivered a threehours’ speech, portion of which > dealt with the Singapore base, * the Leader of the Opposition sprang a surprise by moving that the House agree with the policy of the British Government regarding Singapore. The outcome of this will be awaited with interest. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. Received March 27, 10.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, March 27. Before a crowded house, Mr Bruce made a lengthy statement, covering his mission to and work at the Imperial and Economic Conferences, having previously supplied members with copies of the resolutions carried at these conferences. His speech largely retraced matters already published. He said his task was made easier by reason of the greatly increased publicity obtained for the proceedings of the conferences, which must meet with general approval, as such conferences could only achieve full effect when their deliberations were known to and understood by the peoples of the various countries concerned, and supported by well informed public opinion. The Imperial Conference was now accepted by all who had the opportunity of judging as a satisfactory method of solving very intricate difficult problems relating to the Empire. He said emphatically that the best interest of Australia would be served by acting in co-operation with the rest of the Empire and bearing our fair share of the burden of Empire defence. Dealing with the abandonment of the Singapore Base, Mr Bruce stressed the gravity of the national situation in regard to defence. He reaffirmed the proposed construction of two cruisers, and indicated that other defence proposals would be submitted.

Mr. Bruee’s speech occupied three hours. It was the intention of ths Government at the close to have moved a series of resolutions offering a number of principles regarding the decision of the Imperial and Economic Conferences and then adjourn in order to give Mr. Charlton, Leader of the Opposition, an opportunity of dealing with them to-morrow. Mr. Charlton, however, sprang a surprise by asking that resolutions be put separately. Mr. Bruce objected. Mr. Charlton thereupon proposed an amendment asking the House to affirm its agreement with the policy of the British Government as just adopted by the House of Commons, and one which, he said, was calculated to produce goodwill among the nations. Mr. Charlton intimated that the Labour Party attached no importance to the resolutions adopted in London. They have been of no service to Australia, and the result had justified the stand taken by the party, before Mr. Bruee’s departure, against suspension of the session’s work.

The House ■ was taken by surprise, and when Mr. Charlton sat down there was an awkward pause, before Dr. Earl Page rose to support Mr. Charlton’s amendment.