FREEMANLE BY-ELECTION

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 5

FREEMANLE BY-ELECTION

TEST FOR THE GOVERNMENT POLLING TO-DAY (N.Z.P.A Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 17. The Fremantle by-election, ■ made necessary by the death of the former Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, is to be held to-morrow. It will be a good test of the popularity of the Government and a most significant pointer to the Federal elections which are to be held next year. Fremantle has always been a border-line seat. Mr Curtin, despite his strong personal vote, once lost it, and held it on other occasions by narrow majorities. There has been intense campaigning by both the Labour and Liberal Parties. The Prime Minister (Mr J. B. Chifley), the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr F. M. Forde), and other members of the Cabinet, visited Perth to support the Labour candidate, Mr K. K, Beasley, a 27-year-old university graduate and school teacher. Liberal Party leaders have lent their aid to the Liberal candidate, Mr D. M. Cleland, who is a solicitor, and 44 years of age. There are four other candidates, but only these two are given any chance of winning. Labour is very confident of success. The.other candidates are Messrs C. Ferguson (State Liberal), T. J. Hughes (Independent), P. L. Troy (Communist), and Lou is Phillips (" Atokist"). Mr Phillips is described as "founder and sole member of the Atokist Party." He is said to have coined the term " Atokism " from the Green word meaning, " No interests." His policy is the abolition of interest and rent.""