VICTORIAN POLITICS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21038, 14 February 1940, Page 8

VICTORIAN POLITICS

REQUEST FOR DISSOLUTION AN ELECTION PROBABLE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, Feb. 13 The Premier of Victoria, the Hon. A. A. Dunstan, saw the Governor, Sir Winston Dugan, today and presented a case for the dissolution of the State Parliament and an early election. Trouble has been developing for some time in Mr Dunstan’s Country Party Government, which holds office with the support of the Labour Party. The central council of the Country Party—which is the administrative section of the party as distinct from the Parliamentary section—has made many attempts recently to dominate Ministers, to such an extent that Mr Dunstan last week made an extensive tour of Victoria denouncing what he described as attempts at “outside dictation.” Some members of the Parliamentary section of the party are supporters of the central council. The majority are not. Brought to a Head The dispute was brought to a head recently when the Ministry refused to reappoint Mr A. E. Hocking, a former president of the central council, as Commissioner of the State Savings Bank. Several motions have since been placed on the agenda for the annual conference of the party demanding that all future appointees to State positions be Country Party members. Mr Dunstan now desires to seek a mandate from the people to continue to govern without dictation from outside sources. The Governor’s reply is expected tonight. PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED INTENSE POLITICAL ACTIVITY WEEKS OF INTERNAL STRIFE (United Press Assn.—Eiec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 14, 12.25 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Feb. 14 Following a day of intense political activity the Victorian State Parliament was dissolved at a late hour last night. The dissolution caused no surprise, as for weeks the Premier, Mr Dunstan, has been threatening an election as a result of the internal strife within his_party.