ELECTION IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23985, 28 June 1943, Page 5

ELECTION IN AUSTRALIA

“Brisbane Line” Controversy LIKELY PLATFORMS OF PARTIES (Special Australian Corresp., N.ZJ.A.) (Rec. 10.5 p.m.) SYJJNEY, June tl. “Until public emotions clarify it would be a bold prophet who would forecast the outcome of the election. All are agreed that it is likely to be as close, as bitter, and as fluctuating, in week-to-week fortune as any m Australia's history.” This comment on the forthcoming Federal polling, expected to be held late in August. !■ made by the political correspondent of the “Sydney Sunday Sun” to-day. “The outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the statements by the suspended Minister of Labour (Mr E. J. Ward), that he had been “most reliably informed” that a vital document was missing from the War Cabinet’s files, may prove an important election factor. But whatever the Commission's finding, the ‘Brisbane line issue and the wider question of Australian defence will dominate the elections.’’ One correspondent writes: The ‘Brisbane line’ is not long enough to take all the dirty washing that will be hung on it in the next few weeks. This certain feature of electioneering' is deplored by all Australian newspapers. “At best the squabble is academic; at worst it is dishonest and mischievous,” says the “Sydney Daily Telegraph." “But by constant repetition the nebulous and intangible ‘Brisbane line’ has become a catchcry all over Australia. This is a palpable electioneering issue as many expect Labour to capitalise on it. It is well explained in the vote-snaring chorus sung to the appropriate tune of the ‘Siegfried line.’

“We’re going to hang Bob Menzies on the Brisbane line “With Fadden and Percy Spender, too: “Hanging is really far too good for them

“After what they planned to do; “They wanted to give North Queensland to the Jap “And sell you to our foes: “So help us to hang them on the Brisbane Line “For they’re so and goes.’ *

But above the “Brisbane line” and the personal question of Ministerial in* tegrity stand many broader issues. La* hour’s defence record and its post*war social security plans will perhaps be the most solid planks in the Government's platform, which will rest securely on Australian appreciation of the sincerity and honesty of purpose of the Prime Minister (Mr J, Curtin). His personal prestige is Labour's greatest election asset. The Opposition, however, will suffer no lack of election ammunition. Strikes and absenteeism, alleged Government subservience to trade unions increasingly under the influence of the Communists, the rejection of a National Government, inflationary finance, failure to provide one army, bureaucratic control, alleged food bungling—all these will contribute to their indictment of the Curtin Government. Among the great imponderable factors which are likely to decide the outcome at the polls will be the soldiers’ vote the effect of the war on the industrial population drift, and the “coupon vote”—the reaction of the public to war-time restrictions in food, clothing, and amusement, Parliament is expected to dissolve at the end of the week. The Minister or External Affairs (Dr. H. V. Evatt) has been recalled from London to support the Government, and he is expected back within three weeks. By that time the Commonwealth will be in the throes of perhaps the bitterest and most interesting and important election campaign of its history. WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY THREAT”OF ASIA'S MILLIONS (Rec. 10.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. June 21. Whether the "White Australia policy" can be continued after the war has been questioned by two New York newspapers to-day, “Within a week’a sail of Australia are 500,000,000 Asiatics,” says the “New York Dally News.” “Within 10 days' sail there are 1,000,000,000 Asiatics. But there are only 7,000,000 white Australians., Differences in pressure like that breed cyclones. If Australia has weathered the crisis it is largely because of American aid. But our Australian friepdi will continue to be in great danger while the teeming millions of A sia hang over their slim population." The "New York Times” said: "One can only wonder about the 1,000,000,000 congested coloured folk of Asia and nearby white Australia,. with so few people in It."

EARLY MEETING OF DAIL GOVERNMENT POLICY .IN EIRE (Hec. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, June M. In a statement at Dublin on the re* suit of the election, Mr de Valera said the Dail would be convened at tbs earliest possible opportunity to nominate a leader. That would determine the Government and the policy to be pursued. The Dublin correspondent of tpe Press Association states that although Mr de Valera has lost his clew working majority over the combined Opposition parties, relations between the Fianna Fail and the smaller Opposition groups may easily enable Mr de Valera to come to sound arrangements by which his Government can carry on for a considerable time. The Labour deputies, who are the most powerful of the smaller groups, have been always more sympathetically disposed towards Mr de Valera than to Mr William Cosgrave, the leader of the Fine Gael, and Mr de Valera has had to rely on them in earlier Administrations to preserve the Government pta* bility. „ _ , The new strength of the Farmers Party introduces a more incalculablt element, which is likely to influence Mr de Valera’s agricultural policy. EMPLOYMENT FOR SOLDIERS CANBERRA, June 26. Commonwealth troops returning from the Middle East had been “bitterly shocked” at the lack.of discipline in Australia which had caused them to worry about their future, said Senator K C Wilson (Opposition), in the Australian Senate. He submitted a motion urging a plan to ensure that civilian employment was available to service personnel directly they were demobilised. Senator Wilson was In the Middle East with the A.I.F, The men should be kept in the Army trained for their job* even if'it took two or three years, he declared. The motion was welcomed by the Minister of Customs (Senator H. V, Keane) on behalf of the Government. He reiterated the assurance from the Prime Minister that the Government accepted the principle that jobs should be provided for both service personnel and war workers before they were demobilised.

, Quisling’s Cousin.—Captain Gunnar Quisling, a cousin of the Norwegian traitor, who came to America 50 years ago with his father, has given the Government two inventions which “may prove invaluable in winning the war.” —New York, June 2T.