A JUMBLE OF-POLICIES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1934, Page 8

A JUMBLE OF-POLICIES

The Australian elector will be faced with a difficult problem if he tries to sort out from the jumble of policies before him the proposals of which he approves. He may prefer 80 per cent, of the United Australia Party's policy, 10 per cent, of the Country, 5 per cent, of the Labour, and 5 per cent, of the Lang. But he cannot have it this way. He must take the bad with the good, or, if he is a pessimist, the bad and the worse. He may not divide his vote and say that Mr. Lyons shall be Prime Minister with the proviso that he shall adopt the Country Party's tariff and the Lang Party's marketing scheme, In the end the despairing elector may be influenced by just one item: 3s 9d a bushel wheat if he is a farmer or full -wages for every idle worker if he is unemployed. In fact, as it is impossible for every elector to have his own party and a little Parliament all to himself, lie must compromise somehow. At this distance from the conflict it is impossible yet to say what will be the dominating issue in the campaign. It has been suggested that banking will prove most controversial. This is probable because upon this there is a clearer dividing line than upon any other proposal. The United Party stands firmly for maintenance of the present system, claiming that it has served Australia well. The Country Party does not go quite so far, and proposes an expert inquiry into banking, currency, and related questions. This proposal, however, can be reconciled with the United programme, since the existing system" has been developed by experts and they are unlikely to recommend radical changes. Both Labour and Lang, on the other hand, are committed-to nationalisation and political control. . Apart from this clear division which makes the issue important, banking is bound to have the public attention because Labour and Lang must try somehow to convince the public ihat they can find the means to give effect to their promises. What else can they suggest but banking reform? Always the public are inclined to believe that some short cut to prosperity will be found. But Australians may not be too ready to accept a radical plan. They have had experience of Com-' monwealth banking under Labour and under a United Government. In New South Wales they have had an example of Lang control of the savings bank. And experience leaches ! caution.