MILD SENSATION

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21039, 15 February 1940, Page 8

MILD SENSATION

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS LEASE OF A RACEHORSE REBUKED BY PREMIER (United Pi ess Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MELBOURNE, Feb. 14 The leader of the Federal Labour Party, Mr J. Curtin, has created a j mild political sensation by his dis- | closure that the Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr N. J. Lawson, has leased a racehorse from Mr W. J. Smith, general manager of Australian Consolidated Industries, Limited, with whom negotiations for the manufacture of complete motorcars in Australia were abruptly stopped recently by the Commonwealth Government. Mr Lawson yesterday admitted the truth of the assertion and expressed his intention of cancelling the lease of the horse. A Great Blunder The Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, rebuked Mr Lawson and told him he had made "a great blunder,” but he did not doubt Mr Lawson’s honesty. Mr Curtin today announced that he intends to demand access to all the files relating to the manufacture of motor-cars in Australia by Consolidated Industries, Limited. Mr A. G. Cameron, leader of the Country Party, who arrived in Sydney today, said the only course open to Mr Lawson was to resign from the Ministry. Mr Cameron said he was quite sure that Parliament, when discussing the motor-car agreement, would demand a full statement on the racehorse incident.

“It is no longer Mr Lawson’s blunder,” said Mr Cameron. “It is Mr Menzies’ blunder for permitting the Minister to remain in the Ministry.”

Mr Menzies, who is also in Sydney, said: “I am not prepared to terminate the Ministerial career of a colleague simply because he committed an error of judgment not involving dishonesty.”