N.S.W. ELECTIONS

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17408, 20 March 1922, Page 7

N.S.W. ELECTIONS

MANY CANDIDATES STANDING:

(FROM OTTR OWN CO»&£SPONDE>"f.) SYDNEY, March 9. Many brands of politics are represented by the 29S candidates nominated for the 20 seats at the New South Wales elections, which are to be held oil March 25th. It is unlikely that anti-Labour votes will be wasted on the innumerable "democratic" and 'independent" candidates, and the Coalition Party will present a solid front against Labour in the nine metropolitan constituencies, each of which returns five members. To this extent, therefore, the vote will test the strength of the forces supporting the D-oley-McGirr combination. The position in the country is not so favourable for the anti-Labour forces. Each of tho 15 country electorates returns three candidates, and becau.-e of differences in the anti-Labour ranks, Coalitinn candidates will bo opposed in every instance by Progressive, as well as by Labour nominees. There is net much doubt that tho block vote, or party ticket plumping will predominate. The proportional representation system demands the preferential numbering of the candidates by the Sectors in order of preterenco. Advocates of the system declared that the failure at its first trial of 50 per cent, of the electors to vote was caused by their bein<r required to number every candidate on the ballot paper. Tho Act was emended so that now sectors may vote for their party candidates only. Proportional voting is disliked by all, but Labour will stick to it because of the fact that it gives its candidates the advantage of being required to win only a proportion of tho total, and not a majority. The principal trouble is likely to arise among the squads sent into battle by tho different parties. Each candidate wants No. 1 opposite his name on tho ballot paper. Gaining that lead, the transfers that follow are all bis gain. Endless wrangling, as ut tho last elections, is expected, and much political throat-cutting is likely in tho struggle for the prixe of £875 a yoar. - Tlie campaigning has been distinguished so far by the remarkable efforts being made by tho Government tfe gain points. Tho Opposition tells the people that they are oil the road to ruin and bankruptcy under Labour, quoting what appears to the ordinary man as almost unanswerable figures; but tho Labour Treasurer replies by stating that they are on tho high road to prosperity. The Premier (Sir Doo'ey) has been described as > being in a condition of political delirium, because of tho prodignDU of his promises. . If 3io wins it will mean a hard time ahead in compromising with his supporters to whom he is promising so much.