BITTER STRUGGLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 151, 28 June 1943, Page 5

BITTER STRUGGLE

AUSTRALIAN ELECTION (Special P.A. Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 27. "Till public emotions clarify it would be a bold prophet who would forecast the outcome of the election. All are agreed that it is likely to be as close and as bitter as any in Australia's history." This comment on the forthcoming Federal election is made by the "Sydney Sun's" political correspondent day"The outcome of the Royal Commission of Inquiry centring around statements by the suspended Minister of Labour, Mr. E. J. Ward, that he had been 'most reliably informed' that a vital document was missing from the War Cabinet files, may prove an important election factor," the correspondent says. But whatever the Commission's finding, the Brisbane Line issue and the wider question of Australian defence will dominate the elections. One correspondent writes: "The Brisbane Line is not long enough to take all the dirty washing that will be hung on it in the next few weeks." This certain feature of the electioneering is deplored by all Australian newspapers. "At its best the squabble is academic. At its worst it is dis~ honest and mischievous," says the "Sydney Telegraph." But by constant, repetition the "nebulous Brisbane Line" has become a catch-cry all over Australia. LABOUR'S GREAT ASSET. However, there are broader issues. Labour's defence record and its postwar social security plans will be perhaps the most solid planks in a Government's platform, which will rest on Australia's appreciation of. the sincerity and honesty of purpose ri Mr. Curtin, whose personal prestige is Labour's greatest election asset. The Opposition, however, will suffer no lack of election ammunition. Strikes and absenteeism, Government subservience to trade unions which are increasingly under the influence of Communists, the rejection of a national government, inflationary finance, failure to provide one army, •bureaucratic control, food bungling— all these will be on their indictment of the Curtin Government. Among the imponderable factors are the soldier's vote, the effect of the war, population drift, and the "coupon vote" —the reaction of the public to the wartime restrictions m food, clothing, and amusement. Parliament is expected to dissolve at the end of the week. The Minister of External Affairs, Dr Evatt. has been recalled from London to support the Government, and is expected back here within three weeks. N