ELECTION SECRET.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 7

ELECTION SECRET.

I'LL MAKE THEM SORRY

Mr. Hughes' Motives Revealed In Private Letter: REVIEW OP THE PROSPECTS. V (From Our Own Correspondent.);. j. , ' ''••.' SYDNEY, September 13. Australia received the news" of the: defeat of the Bruce-Page Government With what might be termed "expected surprise." It was expected in many quarters; but when it came, it came as a surprise;-Looking-back, however, it is realised that the writing was* on the wall for months', and while protagonists of William Morris Hughes, .the. "Little Welsh-man,"-still claim him as the most vital' force in Australian politics,'they have been forced-to admit that he has been working for the overthrow of the Government, on more or Jess personal grounds, ever since the ■'time he was deposed from the leadership after the war. ■< ■-'. ■•'. •■»-•■■ • •■ This is borne out in striking manner by the "contents of a letter published iin the "Sydney Morning-Herald." It.was, sent by- the former' Prime Minister .of Australia- to Mr. R. *W.'Foster, former member for Wakefield, South Australia', when that gentleman was defeated at the last elections. > ; ■. "You were one of the few who, through good and evil fortune,' always turned, to me. a friendly face," the letter runs. "I shall-; miss you. the more because T ,liave quite made up my mind that thisl combination must go if Nationalism is. to be saved. And, with God's help, I'll make some of them sorry..for themselves. For the greater part of last Parliament' I, had other fish to fry; -but now' I'm quite free, and, given decent health, "I'll make Janus and Co.. sit up.", ! ~- That he has made "Janus and Co."'sit up with a vengeance is freely admitted; for it was his motion on which ;the Government went down,to defeat,.'drag-, ging with it all "the bitter memories of its industrial proposals and fond recollections of the. suggested heavy taxation on amusements and imports propounded :by Dr. Page; ;; - *' v .••*•'•:. Government Leaders Unpopular. ' : Electors are not so much annoyed with Nationalism as they are with the present leaders of the -party.'Dr.. Page is unpopular for his .muddling, with , the Estimates. • Against the advice- of ,'his' Departmental officers he worked on 'the assumption that Customs figures would show the same handsome'return over,the last period. Then his proposed tax, on, amusements, though it may have 1 been justified, was bitterly, fought.by. the amusement interests, which "command strong- newspaper support, while from th6i' > .stag 6 and the screen, no longer, silent, all : avalanche of propaganda 'was poured'but .-against DiY Pa'<*e. ' - ; •"'"

• The,"' Gbvernmeht'j in . fact", Uiay ■ be claimed/ have .been.'sunk by. a^wave, bii the. crest ,of which, were the,,moving,; picture.'lnterest's, William.Morris Hughes, ;and, Walter; Marks.'; ... ,'...'',,, ..' '-... .

Bruce Would Be Deposed,

" There is some truth in the suggestion, too,; that' Mr. Bruce. is ' personally un v popular with party members'because' of the manner in' which, during the.past year or so, he has assumed the role of dictator. ExperiencV shows that members of appreciate-a. dilator in' their heart of heart's; but he must be of a'''certain'calibre: ' Mr':,Hughes was tliat type of'man while he lasted-r-blunt but efficient in his 1 self -appointed' role.' Mr;- Bruce,' on 'the other'hand,' ciHousand too patronising to' retain his •position., "Ih"fact, it is generally conceded that -he does not cart,, personally, whether ""he 'retains h'is' position or not, and'it is almost a certainty that should Nationalism '.be returned 'to power, he will ; bo-"deposed froin the leadership.

, Nationalist party, supporters are particularly, bitter against Messrs.. Hughes and Marks, oh whom is thrown the whole blame, for the wreqk, of..the;* Coalition Government.; Strong.,opposition -will be put .up against both in their, electorates. Botlr constituencies., are..,strongholds for; Nationalism. " And yet, both men com-mand;-a .huge personal following,': particularly .Mr., Hughes.,,.. Div N°tt, who achieved fame. by .defeating the famous Mr, Theodore for the Herbert sea.t,.then .regarded, as, a Labour, stronghold, in 1925, is freely.mentioned as. the. .man to oppose; Mr. Hughes. The position is .fraught 1 with possibilities,' since it is quite possible,, in both electorates,, that'the block, Labour vote may send the Labour candidate, into the House through the. division created in the Nationalist votes'.. I

Labour's Hopes,

.' Mr. Sculliii, Federal'. Labour Leader, looks forward with great 'hbp'es to.a; return to power, according'to a'j3.tate-| mentissued,since the defeat,of,the '.GoyWnmeht, . ft .is, however,, difficult to "understand, what he means by. "jipwer," since the Senate is almost wholly Nationalist —the majority is'overwhelming, in fact^-and-a Laboiir,„Gpverjiment in the House of Representatiy.es would Tip-'hanistrurig by. this';" revisory body. 'Campaign funds' of "the' Labour organisation are "not bottomless,' and.lf ;Mr. "Scullin' found his legislation being cast out by, the Senate, and ; 'consequently asked . for ; a double'f'dissolution, .'• the, .Labour purke would be bled dry to :fight. a second election. ',: '~ "".

* Nationalism's ..organisers claim that the ioutlook is hriglit. from their point .of view, and' there is ,_ much talk i of wresting .this seat and, that from the grip of Labour. That. the. Country party ..will be solidly, behind . the Nationalist .party in. .the fight ; is .indicated-'.by | the only statement Dr. Page;.has. issued; '