AUSTRALIA'S TURN

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 112, 16 November 1928, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S TURN

FEDERAL ELECTIONS MR. BRUCE'S PROGRESS A SPIRITED CAMPAIGN (From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, Bth Novomber. During the last Federal election campaign, three years ago, the Prime Minister {Mr. Bruce) had a triumphal progress right through the country, being exceptionally well received everywhere ho went. During the present campaign there is a different story to tell. Although he has had a wonderful reception in many centres, in others quite the reverse has been the case, and no campaigner has been more heckled than •he. Labour sees great hope in this, but the results will probably show that Nationalists are as great a force to-day as they have been for years past. It is of interest to noto the voting an the last four elections. Following is the table:— Nation- Country Election. alists. Party. Labour. Jlay 5, 191T ........ 52 — 2o Deo. 19, 1919 37 14 24 Dec. 6, 1932 32 14 24 Nor. 14, 1925 38 14 23 The Senate elections have always ■been straight-out fights between Labour and Nationalist, and the Nationalists have enjoyed overwhelming victories. In 1925 Labour suffered its most crushing defeat, and all the causes that operated then still exist. Communism still permeates the Labour Party, and industrial conflicts, on this occasion intensified by mob violence and bomb-throw-ing, confront the electors as they inarch to the ballot-box. The leaders are still silent in the face of outrages. Does it not seem probable, therefore, that Mr. Bruce and his followers will achieve another victory? LESSONS TOR LABOUR. The obvious lesson of the last Federal election was that Labour should put its house in order. The decision of the nation was undoubtedly that there should be no Communism, no departure from constitutional methods, and no dalliance with the forces of revolution. Labour in politics seems to have- missed the moral of that defeat. Even its patriotism is now doubted, and once upon a time patriotism was a strong point with the Australian Labour Party. The remarkable'silence of the leaders on Empire matters, and on the White Australia policy, has been freely commented upon, and Mr. Bruce has been quick to make capital out of this silence. The Labour leaders have been taunted, but they have failed to respond. The moderates within the fold have given up hope of trying to prevent their being dragged over the abyss with the Keds. It cannot be said that the public interest in the campaign has been very pronounced. Judged on the New Zealand standard, it has been an exceedingly mild campaign; on the' Australian standard it has ' been vigorous. However, there are many centres in which practically no public interest is apparent, and for this reason it is difficult to forecast the results. All the same it is a profitless task to anticipate a victory for Labour, but it would not be, surprising if the Bruce-Page Government lost somo scats. It is the silent rote that decides most elections, and the silent vote this year will bo greater | than ever. New South Wales is tho pivotal State, and within its bounds, according to independent observers, five Government seats are in danger. "In Queensland Labour is said to have a good chance of gaining two seats, and one who is to Jiavo a hard fight is Dr. Nott, who achieved national fame three years ago by defeating tlio famous Mr. Theodore at his first attempt to enter the Federal political arena. That sensational victory was regarded by many as being due to the withdrawal of the A.W.U, support from Mr. Theodore. This time the Labour candidate will have the full support of the A.W.U. In Tasmania Labour does not hold a single seat in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. Its only chance of gaining a "Labour seat in the House of Representatives would seem to be in Denisoil, but even there success seems to be doubtful.' In Victoria the Government has already lost the Indi seat to Labour, due to the fact that the retiring member was so busy with his campaigning that he failed to nominate in time. In other constituencies there will probably be changes of personnel rather than of parties. The only West Australian seat which Labour holds in the House of Representatives is Kalgoorlie. This it should retain, and it might gain 3Tremantle. In .South Australia no great changes in party strength are anticipated, but one Labour gain is forecasted. Summed up, tlio chances are that Labour will increase! its strength in the House of Representatives from 23 to 30, and oven so will not be embarrassing to the coalition Government. HECKLED AND INSULTED.' Mr. Bruce was heckled, insulted, and condemned at a woman's meeting at Melbourne, but it remained for a public meeting at Geelong West to show just Jiow far a crowd can go in the way of insulting a politician. Although Mr. Bruce occupied tho stage for two hours, he was not permitted to make a speech. Not that that mattered very much, because ordinary policy mutters have drifted to the background, and politicians on all sides soem content to discuss industrial problems to the exclusion of all others. At the Goolong meeting there were many watersiders present, and strike issues were the chief theme of tho interjeetors. Several times Mr. Bruce was counted out, and there were further insulting references to his dog kennel at Canberra. He was yelled at and screeched at from all parts of the theatre, which contained nearly 1500 men and women. "Tell us about Port Melbourne, ■where you caused all the trouble," eomeone shouted. i "Tho strike has many angles," replied Mr. Bruce. "Some people blame jne for starting it." Many voices: "So you did." Mr. Bruce: 'The strike broke out, and I took very definite steps to sue that the shipping services were not held up." A voice: "They would not have been held up if you had nut poked your nose into the ugly business." "Anyway, you arc getting the dagoes' vote,", shouted another. ."They ain't got no votes," shouted a man in tho front seat, amidst great laughter. Mr. Bruce was told very plainly that he had instituted the strike for the purpose of providing work for the Italians who he had brought to tho country for the purposo of lowering tho standard of living in Australia. There was groat uproar, and the meeting ended amidst turmoil. . It seems str;;n.'<o that the hostility should be confined almost entirely to Mr. Bruce, but it must bo remembered that he is the main force in Australian politics to-day. Ho has complete control of his party, and not. only of his party, but of the Government. He is the dominating force in Australia to(!ny, a:i<l ha rVr;:ina tlio confidence of Ko*ir.;;iiy because they are convinced that li« is !n;i in polities i'or w!i:it ho oa;i I,'i't out of it. Ho is imbued with ;■. il:■.•■:'.;•'.' i.) ::c"Vi', :l;id ho h:is .slated over nr.tl over n^v.\u that he is prepared to xeliiiquwh the position as soon as there

is no longer a desire io retain hie services. His honesty of purposo has never beon doubted. Onco he makes up his mind to follow a certain course nothing will prevent him from doing so. Just at present there seems to bo nobody able to step into his shoes, and in the circumstances his defeat does not seem in the least probable. The polling on 17th November seems bound to ensure him another term of office.