An interesting 'potted history', thanks Sylvia; such writings help us non-historians put recent events into perspective. Shows how leaders' characters can dominate, over an above the party and policy.

Selection of appropriate leaders is crucial to a party's success, as the Democrats found too late. On two occasions I can name the 'new parties' have selected women who have then started romantic relationships with opposing politicians. This appears to be a new hazard in these days of female leaders entering the pack.

Seems to me that control over ego (and libido) and a willingness to work for the greater good and for party policy are tantamount. Menzies must eventually have learned that lesson?


PS More on the emergence of the Liberal party and demise of the UAP would be useful.

It was indeed a remarkable period in Australian Politics.

Consider this, at this time each of the Major Parties, UAP, CP and Labor had their 3 greatest Members in Parliament and They were all involved in this story in one way or another..

The UAP had Joe Lyons, Bob Menzies and Richard Casey.

The CP had Earle Page, Artie Fadden and Black Jack McEwen, indeed in the Leadership Ballot of the CP in 1940, Page and McEwen tied and as a result the Office was given to Fadden

The Labor Party contained John Curtain, Ben Chifley and the nowadays under-rated Frank Forde, eternal deputy to the Chifley and Curtain and briefly PM between them..

Of these , only Casey never become a Prime Minister, but He had the most distinguished overseas career that any Australian has ever had, as a Member of the British War Cabinet , Governor of Bengal, our First Ambassador to the USA and later GG of Australia as Lord Casey.

With Men like this involved in Politics , anything could and did happen.

We talk about Leadership now days. All these men had it , in Spades