VICTORIAN ELECTION

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 41, 17 August 1921, Page 9

VICTORIAN ELECTION

A POLITICAL TANGLE.

(FROM OUR;OWN CORMSPOKDINT.)

; ' SYDNEY, 9th August. ■ , . The fact that the Victorian Government was defeated by a combination of, the Country Party arid the Labour Party, so that it has been forced to ap- ! peal to the country after \being only nine months in office may be a little puzzling to, the observer at a distance. It must not be thought that, there, is any likelihood of an alliance between the Labour and Country Parties, which are now definite entities in Commonwealth politics and in nearly all of the States. The two are actually further,' apart than are the Nationaliif-s and the Labourites. , ' ■ After the election'nine months ago, the parties in the Victorian Parliament). were:— , ' - ■ ' Liberal* '. :.,..........'.... 31 Labour 21 Country ........;. 13 ' The Liberals formed a Government unj der Mr.'Lawson, but it was obvious that they held office only with the approval of the Country Party. The latter* could combine with Labour at any time to turn the Government out. Any permanent combination of ffiis character was unlikely. Victoria does not like Labour., Except once, for a period of J. 3 days, the State has never had a, Labour Govern-ment^-a fact reflected in the remarkably, low taxation of Victoria as compared with New South Wales and Queensland., But Labour wanted a' compulsory; wheat pool in connection with the forthcoming harvest; the Country Party, for once, demanded the same thing—although as a rule the Country Party is absolutely opposed to "State interference' '; and the Government would not t grant such a pool. It offered financial backing to a voluntary co-operative pool, but, said Mr. 1 Lawson, "the proposal for a wheatgrowers' compulsory, pool, to which every grower would ,ba compelled to sell bis wheat,'was, in of-. feet, an attempt by the anti-Socialistio . Fanners' Union Par,ty, backed by. theLabour Party, to establish a piping hofc instalment of revolutionary Socialism in Victoria." ■ •: ■

The Country Party combined .With! the Labour Party on the issue and defeated the Government. Everyone ex-> pected that the Government thereupon would seek a compromise, for which the Country Party was quite ready. The Liberals decided to go to the-Country.,. Both Country and Liberal Parties will be well supported, making coalition; likely. ■ , '' . 'i ■■