NEW SOUTH WALES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 65, 19 March 1925, Page 9

NEW SOUTH WALES

• COMING ELECTIONS

PROSPECTS OF PARTIES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 11th March. With the forthcoming short session out of the way the stage will be set for the General Election in New South Wales,^somewhere towards the end of May. ''It will not be at all surprising' if, after the election, the balance of power is wjth the Progressives. (Country Party) as is now the case. The Progressives not only have youth on their side; but they have candidates in the field who for the most part, are well and, popularly known in the country Because .of iths vacillating "decisions-of those behind the party, it is sometimes difficult to know just where ,the Progressives stand, but, with a clear and definite statement of their, platform before the electors, they, wliir probably make a good showing. The Nationalists' chances of holding their own, and of securing a fresh lease of life on the Treasury benches, appear to be extremely good: The reduction of the income tax, toe proposed big. housing scheme, and. other useful pieces of work stand definitely to their credit, and while their generalissimo (Sir George Fuller) probably lacks Jhe brilliance of some of his predecessors he is a man whose stability carries with it the assurance that under his leadership the community is safe c overnmentally, and is not likely to be plunged into assorts of wild and ad^ venturous schemes. The Nationalists' prospects depend largely upon the impiession that the party's candidates make on the hustings. The Labour Party seems to be clearly handicapped by the intrusion of Communism into its ranks. There have been a few spectaculaiv expulsions of Communists by ■the A.L.P. executive, but the community cannot blind itself to the growing strength and influence of the "Reds" in the Labour movement in the State, and more especially ..in the industrial centres What is more some of tha actions ?, fie Labour caucus which now governs the City Council, and behind which one sees clearly the trial and the tyrannical domination of the Trades Hall are not a good advertisement'for the party in the .eyes of the community.