Editing John McEwen (section)

===Leadership candidate===
Page resigned as Country Party leader following the outbreak of World War II, in order to facilitate the resumption of a coalition government with the UAP.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=7}} McEwen contested the resulting leadership ballot on 13 September 1939, losing by seven votes to five to South Australian MP [[Archie Cameron]]. Prior to the ballot, the party room had voted against allowing the four dissident MPs to rejoin the parliamentary party, although this decision was reversed a few months later. According to McEwen, the four MPs were his supporters and their presence would have meant he won the leadership ballot over Cameron.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=78}}

Cameron's leadership of the Country Party proved troubled due to his leadership style.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=81}} Only a few weeks after his election, McEwen joined three other Country Party MPs in [[crossing the floor|crossed the floor]] to support an ALP amendment to a bill on [[conscientious objector]]s.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=79}} The [[1940 Australian federal election|1940 federal election]] resulted in a [[hung parliament]], with the Country Party losing three seats. A further leadership ballot was held on 16 October 1940, McEwen and Page again nominating for the leadership. Cameron regarded this as a betrayal and "stormed out of the meeting in a fury", defecting to the UAP a few weeks later. Two ballots were held, with McEwen and Page tied on eight votes each. [[Arthur Fadden]] was then elected acting leader as a compromise candidate.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=80}} He was subsequently confirmed in the position in March 1941, a role he would hold until 1958.{{sfn|Golding|1996|p=81}}