FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 7 December 1931, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

ONLY TWO WEEKS OFF SENATE AND PARLIAMENT 279 NOMINATIONS FOR 87 SEATS FEVERISH CAMPAIGN ACT IVITIES. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph ■ Copyright.) SYDNEY, Dec. 6. Federal Parliamentary nominations closed yesterday throughout Australia for the 75 seats in the House of Representatives and the twelve in the Senate, only one-third of whose number (36) retire. The nominations total 225 for the House and 54 for the Senate. With polling day only a fortnight away candidates are feverishly engaged in their campaigns. They represent six parties. The United Australia Party led by Air S. A. Lyons and Mr J. G. Latham, the United Country Par tv led by Dr. Earle Page, the All-for-Australia League, the leadership of which lacks definition, the official Federal Labour Party under Mr J. H. Seullin (Prime Minister) and Mr E. G. Tneodore’s banner, the Socialist or Langite Labour group led by Mr J. Beasley, who brought about the crisis in the House, some Independents and a handful of Communists swell the formidable list made up as follows: New South Wales, House of Representatives 96, Senate 13; Victoria, 60, 9; Queensland, 21, 7; South Australia, 22, 7; Western Australia, 11, 6; Tasmania, 12, 12; Northern Territory, 1, 0. (The Territory has one non-voting representative only). The United Australia Party is composed largely of former Nationalists and members of the All-for-Australia League, The Country Party is determined to preserve its entity and has declined to bo absorbed by the United Australia Party although willing to co-operate to espouse the ' broad principles of its policy—safe, sane administration, sound finance and national rehabilitation along orthodox practical lines. 'The only difference in the respective policies relates to a high tariff -wall, while the slogan of the combined parties is “In tune with Britain.” Here and there a detached All-for-Australia Party candidate or Country . Party man is running against accredited nominees of their parties, an action which is viewed with disfavour. DIVISION IN LABOUR PARTY. Mr Seullin’s main concern is what will happen in New ‘South Wales, where his followers are being hotly challenged by supporters of Mr Beasley. In no other State is the Labour faction fight being pursued. The popular belief is that the Beasleyites will win a couple of metropolitan seats from the Seullin party owing to Mr Lang’s dominating influence in industrial areas, it. is believed also that the United Australia Party will also regain several of the seats lost, at last election to Labour. Mr Theodore is having a stormy time in his own constituency at Dailey and his banking policy, according .to critics, has become millstones around and his leader’s necks. Mr Theodore in his turn apparently thinks less of the Beasley-cuin-Lang plan, which he describes as a vacuum surrounded by a big noise. The “Daily Telegraph” dubs it a financial nightmare.

It is impossible to analyse the campaigning throughout the country; in all States it is proceeding on energetic lines, some candidates using aeroplanes. Anti-Labour men are making a strong point of their plans to deal with the Communist menace, also of the Prime Minister’s failure to live up to his lavish promises for the relief of unemployment and assistance to primary producers, and of the shortcomings of Langisin. The Labour campaign in the country is likely to bo restricted owing to the shortness of the time before the election.

SCULL IN LOSSES PREDICTED. Mr Lyons (who is being opposed in his own electorate, Wilmot, Tasmania, by his former colleague, Mr G l . S. Becker, in the Tasmanian Parliament) says he will not be surprised if fourteen scats are lost by the iScullin Government in New South Wales, where the anti-Labour forces will secure a majority, while, he expects the Senate candidates of the United Australia Party to secure a sweeping victory. iMr <S. M. Bruce, former Prime Minister, who is in England, has to fight Dr Haywood, a Labourite, in Flinders. Two representatives in Queensland, one in Victoria and two in AVestern Australia have been returned unopposed. The South Australian Independents include Mrs Goode and Mr Crawford Vaughan, a former Premier. A surprise nomination in New South Wales was that of Mr Dooley, an ex-Premier, as an ledepcndent “straight Labour” candidate.