ELECTION NOT WANTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 3

ELECTION NOT WANTED

POLITICAL CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA

(Special Australian Ccrrcnpondent—N.Z.P.A.) Sydney, March 14.

“The Federal political crisis blew up as suddenly as a tropical storm,” says the Sydney Telegraph’s political writer. “There was no feeling of crisis in the air when Parliament reassembled last Tuesday. But by the end of the week the cloud was gigantic and black.” Opinions are sharply divided as to whether the deadlock between the Commonwealth House of Representatives and the Senate over the disputed clause in the Income Tax Bill will precipitate a premature General Election. Many Australians feel that an immediate election would be a grave mistake.

Their views are represented by the Sydney Morning Herald, which comments editorially: "In this time of national emergency nothing that is at issue could possibly be held to justify the forcing of a Parliamentary crisis which might cause a premature election.”

The disputed clause provides that the £30,000,000 National Welfare Bill must be passed before the new Tax Bill becomes operative on April 1. The Senate opposes the conditional linking of the two Bills as a "serious infringement of a vital principle.” The Opposition Leader, Senator McLeay, declares: "If the disputed clause were accepted there is no saying to what lengths this vital principle might be abused. For instance, a desirable measure such as a Bill to provide preference for returned soldiers might be made conditional on the passing of some objectionable Act such as a Bill authorising compulsory unionism or the socialisation of industry.” However, the Sydney Morning Herald points out editorially that the Government's offer to leave the Tax Bill in abeyance till the National Welfare Fund Bill has been considered went far to remove this main ground of the Opposition Senators’ objection. The Government offer was declined by the Senate.