Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

SIR EARLE PAGE'S
ATTITUDE.
LIKELY SUPPORT OF
MR. MENZIES
Melbourne, Octolwr 1).
A mooting' between the Prime
Minister (Mr. Monties) and Sir Earle
Page, the former Country Party
Leader, is expected to be held to
morrow, and on present indications it
appears certain that the Government
will have the support of Sir Earle
Page in the new Parliament.
Sir Earle Page discussed the Federal
political situation with the Country
Part Leader (Mr. Cameron) to-dav
but no statement was issued after the
meeting.
it there i3 a reconciliation between
the Prime Minister and Sir Earle
Page, it will be a result of the endea
vours of Mr. Cameron, who was respon
sible for the former Country Pai'tv
leader coming to Melbourne, If, as
is expected, two other Country Party
members from New South Wales fol
low Sir Earle Page's load, the balance
of power in the new Parliament will
be concentrated in Mr. Wilson (U.C.P.
Wimmera), who is independent of all
Federal Country Part affiliations.
There are believed to be possibilities
that the Prime Minister will be pre
pared to offer Sir Earle Page a port
folio in a reconstructed Ministry. Sir
Earle Page, on arrival from Sya'nev
bv plane, raid he stiU believed that
the only solution of the political diffi
culties in the present crisis was a
National Government.
die added that he had not aitereti
his attitude of opposition to the pro
sent petrol rationing: scheme, hut
strong1 doubts exist whether he would
bo prepared now to take the rationing
i«sue to a point where it might cause
the defeat of the present Government
on 'k" fl^or of the House.
Although he would make no state
ment to-night about this aspect of
the political nitun.tion, close associate?
suggested that the rationing issue
would "resolve itself" without the
necessity of asking Parliament to dis
allow the regulations.
$