Australian Election Campaign Is Lively

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 15

Australian Election Campaign Is Lively

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright)

MELBOURNE, November 20.

With 10 days to go before polling day, the closelyfought campaign for election to Australia’s House of Representatives is gathering momentum, and the air is thick with promises, programmes, and the aircraft of flying politicians.

Commentators generally agree that the result of the election is still in the balance, and that whoever wins—the LiberalCountry Party coalition or the Australian Labour Party—the majority will be small.

The Liberal-Country Party coalition, headed by the Prime Minister (Sir Robert Menzies) has been in power for 14 years, but for the last two years with a working majority of only one in the House. An election was not due until late next year. Sir Robert Menzies called a sniap poll for November 30 because he thought it vital "that Australia’s foreign policy . . . should be clear and steady and the world should know they are managed by a government which has a clear mandate from the Australian people.” Basic issues were Australia’s pledge of help for

Malaysia should the new South-east Asian Federation come under outside attack, control of an American naval signalling station planned for Western Australia, and a proposed nuclear-free zone in the Southern Hemisphere. . The A.L.P. wants a formal Malaysia treaty, joint control of the United State’s base and a nuclear-free zone. Sir Robert Menzies says the latter would provoke “mistrust” of Australia’s good faith by nations on whom she depends for her security. Domestic Questions Domestic matters were brought to the forefront of the campaign with the formal policy speeches by Sir Robert Menzies and the A.L.P. leader Mr Arthur Calwell. Mr Calwell promised that a Labour government would more than double maternity allowances and child endowment, provide low-interest housing finance and grant the States more money for education.

Sir Robert Menzies pledged increased child endowment, housing grants for young married couples and various education benefits. His proposals were less sweeping and more specific. Liberals derided the Labour programme and asked "where would they raise the money?” Labour leaders asked why the Liberals had not introduced their proposals in the recent Federal Budget. All parties are paying particular attention to Queensland, where the Australian j Labour Party captured seven seats from the Government in 1961, when it came elose to toppling the then 12-year-old Menzies regime. The Liberal and Country Parties won 62 seats to 60 for the A.L.P. in that election. and were left with a House majority of one after appointment of the speaker Many Independents The 122 seats this time are being contested by a total of 387 candidates. Apart from the Liberal, Country and Australian Labour Parties, the other candidates include a large number of independents, members of the Democratic Labour Party splinter group. Communists and a lone candidate for the Australian Republican Party. Party leaders are winging back and forth across the Continent addressing several meetings a day. Attendances have been heavy and heckling frequent. Several brawls have broken out. including one at a Melbourne meeting addressed by Sir Robert Menzies. Public opinion polls indicate another close voting battle. A poll taken last month, after the Budget and just before the election was announced, indicated a 5 per cent drift away from the Government But the latest swing of the pendulum, last weekend. was back to the LiberalCountry Party coalitionenough. pollsters said, to give it a slight majority. The poll was taken after Mr Calwell’s major policy speech but before S’ Robert Menzies's speech. The next survey is keenly awaited. Both Sir Robert Menzies and Mr Calwell are claiming

| strong electoral moves in their favour. Sir Robert Menzies said in Adelaide last night that the Government's campaign was going “remarkably well.” Mr Calwell said in Townsville: “Everywhere I have been, people tell me it is time for a change. Labour will win ... I am sure of it.” Told of the Prime Minister's comment on the Government campaign, Mr Calwell said: “I think the Prime Minister is whistling to keep up his courage and the courage of his hapless supporters.” Mr Calwell said he had believed Labour would win from the moment he announced the election policy. “Now I am sure of it," he said. Mr Calwell accused the Federal Treasurer (Mr Harald Holt) of “blatant misuse of public servants foe undisguised political purposes. “Last night the Treasurer announced that he would obtain from the Treasury a third analysis of Labour’s proposal,” Mr Calwell said. He described this action as “one of the most disgraceful aspects of Mr Holt's inglorious career.” Preferential Voting Mr Calwell also said abolition of preferential voting would not favour the Labour Party at the expense of any other party, as an analysis of the 1961 election results would show. But it would more accurately reflect changes in public opinion.