at the 1947 election the coalition returned to power, with the nationalists having now become the liberals. the mclarty–watts ministry would held power until the 1953 election. during this time in march 1949, james mann, the member for beverley, led a breakaway faction out of the country party, and initially sat as an independent. his faction merged into the liberal and country league, formed in march 1939, which the liberals merged into in may 1949.