Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th., 1930. WHO WILL WIN ?

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 October 1930, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th., 1930. WHO WILL WIN ?

'J’IIE above question will be do

minant in the minds of most New Zealanders over the week-end, perhaps mostly in connection with the various race-meetings. It is to be hoped that the weather will be favourable throughout the first holiday of the season, as, otherwise, the benefit from the temporary vacation cannot be fully derived. The anxiety over the economic situation makes the break in the daily routine more welcome. Racing and trotting clubs, which provide so much amusement for the nation, are having a lean time, and are faced with dwindling revenue, extra expenses and taxation. The utmost public support is deserved. Indeed, in the public’s own interest, such support is essential, if the smaller clubs are

to c(|jitiniie to exist. That is by the way. Our caption above was not intended to refer to holiday-racing, but to the New South Wales Parliamentary elections, the polling for which takes place, to-day. Nearly every such election, in every country, is claimed to be the most momentous on record, when, frequently, no very important issue is at stake. In the case of New South Wales, to-day, it must be admitted that the result is of importance and it will be awaited eagerly by the whole Empire. The fight is not so much between the Nationalists and Labour, as between, financial commonsense and financial chaos. The electors in New South Wales are being given the opportunity of passing their verdict on the efforts

being made to extricate the State, and all Australia, from the economic morass in which the policy of extravagance has plunged the country. Such efforts mean hard work and temporary sacrifices, and those upholding these rescue attempts are handicapped by the unwelcome nature of their proposals. On the other hand, the Labourites have been profuse in promise of restored prosperity without cost, and this “gold brick” may prove sufficiently alluring to deceive those who resent having to make their quota of personal sacrifice. The electioneering campaign could not help being very bitter, and this has not added to national clear thinking. The prophets admit difficulty in predicting the winner, but there will be general outside regret, if Mr. Lang gets a vote of confidence. Such a victory would haye widespread effect on the Federal Labour Government, probably causing a Cabinet break-up, or a dissolution of the Federal House of Representatives. Investors in Australian securities would be seriously perturbed, and if Mr. Lang attempted to practise his campaign threats against banks and capitalists, Australia’s financial condition would go from bad to worse. On the other hand, a win for Mr. Bavin would be taken as a declaration that the Australian people realise the true,needs of the situation, and had no sympathy with repudiation of obligations and debts. This attitude would ensure a rally of capital to Australia’s support, the eventual result being to restore prosperity on Strong foundations, and not on specious promises incapable of standing any strain. It is 1 difficult to believe that the N.S. Wales electors will reject Mr. Bavin’s policy of honest effort in favour of .Mr. Lang’s more spectacular and pleasing picture of rosy times ahead without cost, but strange things have previously happened in N.S. Wales politics, and none can be confident that Labour will get the reverse, to-day, it assuredly deserves.