ENTHUSIASM LOST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 71, 25 March 1941, Page 6

ENTHUSIASM LOST.

CAUSE OF LABOUR.

QUEENSLAND POSITION

(By Air.) SYDNEY, March 22. Apart from opposition to some Cabinet Ministers by Independent Socialists, there are few surprises in t lie 138 nomination* for f>2 seats at the State general election to be held on March 20 (states the Brisbane correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald"). The state of the parties, in the retiring House is Labour, 43; Country Party, 13; U.A.P., 4; Protestant Labour, 1; "and Independent, 1. Five members haxe been returned unopposed—H. F. Walker (I'.P., C'ooroora). J. Clark (Lab., Fitzroy), Randolph Bedford (Lab., Warregoi, G. Keyatta (I.ah.. Townsville, who enlisted in the A I F.), and I'. J. Hilton (Lib., Carnarvon). G. Morrow (Protestant Labour. Kelvin Grove), who is now a petty-officer in the Navy, is roco litesting the seat a> an Independent, while Dr. Watson Brown (Gregory), the only Independent in the last Parliament, is again standing under that banner, though he nas joined tho B.A.A.F. The Leader of the Opposition. Mr B. Malier (West Moretoni, has every reason to feel satisfied with his recent tour of North (Queensland. No other political leader has had a more cordial reception, which is remarkable, as the Opposition has not won a seat noith of Keppel (Central Q.) since 1932. At such Government strongholds as Ingham and Mackay, the Premier's electorate, Mr. Maher's speeches roused audiences to the pitch of carrying resolutions of protest against the Government's "autocratic methods." The main issues in the election are (1) the Government's refusal to lift the State Development Tax. and the Opposition's offer to reduce it and finally abolish it; (2) the Opposition's charge that the Government's admini.-t rat ion tends to dictatorial methods, again-t Labour's defence of the Public Safety Act, on the ground that all its wide powers arc necessary to meet a possible emergency. Public feeling shows a definite lr** of enthusiasm for Labour's case. Labour's aggregate vote is certain to be reducH.