MIST OF DOUBT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 144, 15 December 1922, Page 7

MIST OF DOUBT

THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS

ALL PROPHETS IN DANGER

HUGHES WILL PROBABLY LOSE GROUND.

(UNHID PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIfIHT.)

(Received 15th December, rioon.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

Probably never had the political prophets a more open chance of spoiling their reputations than in connection with the preseni, Federal Election campaign. Up to the closing rallies there have developed no outstanding features other than the emphasising that the struggle is primarily one of party interests, combined with a revolt of a section' of the old Nationalist Party against Mr. Hughes's alleged self-centred and longcontinued domination.

A bitter personal platform and Press duel between Mr. Hughes and Mr. ,A. B. Piddingtpi, ex-Judge of the High Court, a general rewashing of "dirty linen" over the present of £25,000 to i£i\ Hughes and other resurrected bones of contention of a more or less personal nature have added zest to an otherwise somewhat flat campaign. With no Labour candidate in the field, Mr, Hughes and Mr. Piddington will have a straightout duel on Saturday. Mn Piddington iB standing as an' Independent, but will carry the bullk of the Labour as well as the anti-Hughes vote, and is regarded as haying a bare fighting chance against the Prime Minister. < The Liberals, under the leadership of Mr. W. A. Watt, and comprising the Nationalist ' revolters against the Hughes regime and opponents of the removal of the capital to Canberra, are a disturbing factor, and will carry some weight, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. The party is already safe as far as its leader is concerned, Mr. Watt having been elected unopposed, but that he will get a strong following is not very likely. The Country Party, representing another breakaway from the Nationalist centre, • his gathered good support in all States, and has to be reckoned with.

As on the ever of every election, each .party proclaims its prospects to be rosy. The Nationalists proclaim as a certainty that they will secure a majority, the Country Party reckons on a great acces-sion-of strength in the new Ho.use, the Liberals are strongly optimistic, and Labour looks "to overthrow its combined opponents. As a set-off to his illness, which has prevented the Labour leader from participating in the^ campaign, Mr. Charlton has been returned unopposed. Mr.--Pratten and General Byrie, Nationalists, have also been returned unopposed. ; , • ' It is hopeless, in vtew of the apparent apathy of the great mass of the elector sand the complexity of the party issues to attempt anything in the shape of a definite forecast. The indications are that the Nationalists wilMose some seats to the Coifli'try and Liberal Parties, and that Mr. Hughes will probably not have a majority against the other sections. Labour should fairly well hold its own, or, possibly, make'some gains. One indication is that the Country, Party has. advised its supporters to give the preference votes to "the National Party candidates, and the Nationalists are expected to return the compliment. ■