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Dr. Evatt Should
Comfortably
Defeat Mr. Ward
Dr. Evatt is not expected to have
much difficulty in retaining leadership
of the Federal Parliamentary Labour
Party at the meeting of caucus to-mor-
row afternoon.
He should easily secure the
39 votes needed to confirm
his continued leadership of
the party since 1951.
Dr. Evatt should comfort-
ably defeat his only likely
opponent, Mr. Ward, of
N.S.W., despite a report from
Mr. Ward's supporters last
night that "he had the num-
bers."
This claim was later dis-
counted in other Labour cir-
cles, however.
Some members normally
opposed to both Dr. Evatt
and Mr. Ward are determined
not to allow Dr. Evatt an
overwhelming victory.
They are prepared to
"throw" votes to Mr. Ward
rather than have it under-
stood that Dr. Evatt enjoyed
the almost undivided support
of caucus.
This will be Mr. Ward's
first tilt at the party leader-
ship since the late Mr. Chif-
ley's death, although he stood
without success for Deputy
Leader, being defeated by
Mr. Calwell.
Unless a surprise nomin-
ation is received, Dr. Evatt
and Mr. Ward will be the
only candidates for leader-
ship
The right-wing group of
the party, numbering a little
over 20, which might norm-
ally be expected to vote
against Dr. Evatt, is divided
on the leadership issue be-
cause some of its members
are equally opposed to Mr.
Ward, who has hitherto
shown little sympathy for
them.
How they will vote is one
of the mysteries of the situ-
ation.
The members of this group
are in a position to bargain,
their reward being election of
some of their nominees to
caucus posts, particularly the
party executive.
All executive positions in
the party have to be filled
following an election, but
two vital offices might pro-
vide walk-overs.
Mr. Calwell is likely to be
unopposed in re-election as
Deputy Leader of the party
under Dr. Evatt, and in the
Senate, Senator McKenna is
expected to find no oppo-
sition to his re-appointment
as party leader there.
However, Senator Kennelly
(Victoria) could have to face
a ballot against Senator Arm-
strong (N.S.W.) as Deputy
Leader.
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