FEDERAL POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17803, 30 August 1929, Page 8

FEDERAL POLITICS.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE? SPECULATION PREVALENT. MANY RUMOURS AFLOAT. (By T-elegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Received August 30, 1.15 p.m.) ■CANBERRA, August 30. Speculation -prevails as to the political future. There are many rumours that the reconstruction of the Ministry is imminent. One suggestionis that Mr Bruce will resign immediately and hand over the reins to Mr Latham, the AttorneyGeneral. >■ Another report is that the Arbitration Bill will-be postponed for a fortnight to allow of further consideration thereof by the members of the Ministerial Party. All these rumours were denied after a party meeting, at which it is understood that Mr Bruce informed his followers that the recent exclusion of Messrs Hughes and Mann from the party meetings did not mean -their expulsion from the party but simply that the Prime Minister felt, in view of these -members’ adverse criticisms and voles, it was unwise to allow them in the meantime to lie in the confidence of the party, ,to which they had shown hostility. One member, later sa-id he had no hesitation in saying that Air Bruce stood higher than ever in Hie Nationalists’ opinion, whicli is unlikely to view favourably his relinquishment of the leadership. It is understood that certain of the alterations projected will include a concession to relieve country picture theatres. This, it is thought, will he done by exempting a certain portion of the gross receipts from taxation.