AUSTRALIA MUST VOTE TO-DAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 7

AUSTRALIA MUST VOTE TO-DAY

PENALTY FOR ABSTENTION

VITAL ISSUES AT STAKE.

(BSirlß PHESS ASSOCIATION—COP\RT<IBT.)

SYDNEY, 3rd November.

Monster final rallies and appeals by the party leaders have brought the bit-. terly-fought Federal election campaign to an end. Seldom has nn 'election been followed ■with more general public interest. The electorate appears' to be fully roused to the delicacy of the position and the high importance of the national and Empire issues involved. -■; Contributing factors to this keener interest undoubtedly are that voting is compulsory, under a penalty of £2, and the wide utilisation of wireless for broadcasting gpeeches and propaganda. Events connected with the British seaniens' strike and the attitude t>f the watersidere' unions, and of certain State Governments thereto arfe regarded as significant, whilst the daring legislation in various directions recently forced through the New South Walea Assembly and the Queensland Government's surrender to the raiiwftymen's demands ore fresh in the minds of electors. t

RIVAL PARTY PLEAS

The campaign has largely hinged on the Nationalist slogan of "Peace, order, good government, and financial stability, as allegedly opposed to Labour's drift towards revolutionary Communism, class warfare, and financial disaster. Labour's reply has been that the Nationalists are raising and riding the political bogey of extremism and Sovietism to their own destruction, and offered a most attractive' programme of promises as a set-off.

The Voting should be a fair test of what the electorate as a whole favours', as with few exceptions the fights will be straight out between Lhbou* and Nationalists or members of the Nationalist wing composing the Country Party. With five or six State Governments under its dominance, Labour appears to consider it has a stranglehold on the position, but an apparent tehdency to surrender more and mote to the demands of extremists has had a steadying effect upon the more modern ate sections. Developments connected with the seamen's strike have opened the eyes of many as to how far the extremists will go if given an opportunity, but what effect this knowledge will have on the voting remains to be seen. The Nationalists are relying upon these startling signs of the times and the pressing need for stabilising the position generally to rouse many previously lethargic voters 'to do their duty. The sweeping win for stable government in New Zealand is accepted as a good omen, and has helped to hearten the Nationalist fcaittb.

RESULT HARD TO FORECAST

It is expected that the poll will be beyond nofriial. Needless to say, the leaders of both sides, as usual, and ■with equal fervency, predict their own victory. Failing a landslide similar to that in New Zealand,— a very unlikely happening as things' stand-"-the , issue appears to be on the lap of the gods, and whichever side scores the victory it will probably lie by a narrow majority with the possibility of a counterbalancing vote in the Senate. Discounting the unforeseen happenings Mr. Brueo may consider himself a- fortunate rrian if, after tlie storm, he finds himself still firmly balanced in the saddle. When the Federal Parliament was dissolved, the state, of parties in the House of Representatives was: Nationalists, 28; Country Party, 13; Labour, 29; Independents, 5; while the Senate Was composed of twenty-two ■ Nationalists ana fourteen Labour. Twenty-two Senators retired, leaving nine Labourites ad five Nationalists who are not seeking election. \ To retain control of thd Senate the Nationalists must wift fourteen Out Of the twenty-two vacancies. They express . confidence that they will be able to do this, whereas Labour, with equal confidence, anticipates winning ten or twelve seats. Winning the Semite is the crucial point. Whoever wins that holds the key position. There appears to be a prospect of the election being followed by an early double dissolution. For the House, Labour required to win eleven seatß to secure a majority, and is hopeful of winning . twelve or thirteen, while the Liberals expect not only to hold what they havei but to gain a few seats. , Outside party circles, public feeling appears to favour Labour winning the Senate and the Nationalists holding the House b ( y a bare majority, bub never was an issue more difficult to forecast.