COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22110, 4 June 1937, Page 11

COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS

OCTOBER SUGGESTED AS DATE OF POLL MR LYONS MAY RETURN FROM LONDON BY AIK CFROII OCR OWB COEaSSPOXDEXT.) SYDNEY. May 21. While the Prime Minister iMr J. A. Lyons) is enjoying a personal triumph in London, his political friends and enemies in Australia are discussing the likelihood of an early election — possibly in October. Labour is jubilant over the success of its candidate. Mr W. J. Scully, in Gwydir, and Labour leaders are certain that after the Imperial Caaference Mr Lyons will hasten back to this country to prepare icr an early appeal to electors. But apart altogether from election talk, the ActingPrime Minister (Dr. Eorle Page) has already hinted that Mr Lyons might fly back to Australia. Mr Makin, who is representing the Australian Labour Party at the Coronation ceremonies and who was Speaker m the > House cf Representatives in the Scullin Government, declared, in an interview m London. that Mr Lyons would make a "loyalty** appeal to the electors. Commenting on this statement, the leader of the Federal Opposition (Mr J. Curtin) said: "To throw a loyalty programme at the electors in an endeavour to snatch political support from the electorates, which were steadily swinging against the Government on major political issues, is doubtless regarded as shrewd tactics by both Mr Lyons and Dr. Page, but the people will have another name tor it." "Mr Curtin seems to be getting very hot and bothered," said Dr. Page. "He seems to be the only person to know when the elections will be held. Having fixed a date to suit his own fancy. he proceeds to criticise it as outrageous. It is too soon yet to say wßea the next appeal will be made to the electors." Mr R. G. Menzies, the Federal At-torney-General said that so far no date had even been considered by the Federal Government Some people seemed to be trying the old game of first imputing an intention to the Ministry about holding an election at a particular time, and then attacking the Ministry for fixing that time. "The Ministry will have no objection whenever the election comes," Mr Menzies added. "The issues at the next election will turn upon the performances and policy of the Ministry. and on these matters the Mnwstry will be content to stand cr falL No false issues will be raised by us.** Meanwhile, Labour is confident ot success at the Federal poll, basing its hopes chiefly on the result in Gwydir. The party leaders believe that the election will take place in October and they consider that the Labour Party has an excellent chance of winning several metropolitan as well as country seats.