Australian Elections

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 303, 7 December 1931, Page 8

Australian Elections

Six Parties in. the Field

Sydney, Dec. 6. The Federal Parliamentary nominations closed on Saturday throughout Australia. For the 75 seats in the House of Representatives and twelve in the Senate, one third of whose numbers 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 the campaigns. They represent six parties: United Australia, led by Mr Lyons and Mr Latham; United Country Party, led by Dr. Earle Page; the All for Australia League, the lead ership of which lacks definition; the official Federal Labour Party, under Mr Scullin and Mr Theodore’s banner; the Socialist or Langite Labour, led by Mr Beasley, who brought about the crisis in the House. Sflme independents and a handful of Communists swell a formidable list made up as follows:—

Note: Northern Territory has only one non-voting representative. ANALYSIS OF NOMINATIONS. An analysis of the Federal nominations as far as they are definable show tions as far as they are definable show: FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. New South Wales (28 Seats).

The South Australian Independents include Mrs Goode and Mr Crawford Vaughan, a former Premier. A surprise nomination in New South Wales was Mr Dooley, ex-Premier, as an Independent “straight Labour.” UNITED AUSTRALIA PARTY. The United Australia Party is com posed largely of former Nationalists and members of the All for Australia 'League. The Country Party is determined to preserve its entity and declined to be absorbed by the United Australia Party, although willing to co-operate

House of Representatives and Senate Seats

and espouse the broad principles of its policy, namely, a safe and sane administration, sound finance and national rehabilitation along orthodox and practical lines. The only difference in the respective policies relates to the high tariff wall, while the slogan of the combined parties is in tune with Britain here and there detached. An All for Australia Party candidate and a Country Party man are running against the accredited nominees of their parties, an action which is viewed with disfavour. Mr Scullin’s main concern is what is going to happen in New South Wales where his followers are being hotly challenged by Beasleyites. In no other State is the Labour faction fight being pursued. The popular belief is that Beasleyites will win a couple of metropolitan seats from the Scullin party, owing to Mr Lang’s dominating influence in industrial areas, and that the United Australia Party will also regain several seats lost last election to Labour. A STORMY SCENE. Mr Theodore is having a stormy time in his own constituency at Dally, and his banking policy has, according 10 critics, become millstones round his and his leaders' necks. Mr Theodore in turn apparently thinks less of the Beasley-cum-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 cam paigning 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 the Communist menace anJ also the Prime Minister’s failure to live-up to tho lavish promises for the relief of unemployment, assistance to primary producers and the shortcomings of Langism. CAMPAIGN RESTRICTED. The Labour campaign in the country is likely to be restricted owing to the shortness of time before the election. Mr Lyons, who is being opposed in his own electorate, Wilmot, in Tasmania, by his former Ministerial colleague, Mr G. S. Becker, in the Tasmanian Parliament, says he would not be surprised if 14 seats are lost by the Scullin Government in New South Wales, where anti-Labour forces will secure a majority, while he expects the Senate candidates of the United Australia Party to secure a sweeping victory. Mr Bruce has to fight Dr. Haywood, a Labourite, in Flinders. Two representatives in Queensland, one in Victoria and two in West Australia are returned unopposed. STATEMENT BY MR BRUCE. GREAT OPPORTUNITY LOST. London, Dec. 5. Mr Brtice in a policy statement issued after the speeches by Mr Scullin and Mr Lyons declares that Mr Scullin lost the greatest opportunity over presented to an Australian statesman, when, on returning from England, he put his party before his country, exhibiting vacillation and lack of courage and true leadership which disquieted oven his own followers. “The re-election of Mr Scullin’s party will lead fo the abandonment of the rehabilitation scheme with disastrous and world-wide reactions. Mr Scullin’s fanaticism on the question of tariffs is a real danger to Australia.” Under the Government’s arbitration policy Mr Bruce says that a few irresponsibles and extremists will continue to determine the lives and happiness of the whole of Australia’s workers. The menace of Communism must be extir jated. MUNICIPAL & SHIRE ELECTIONS. LABOUR REJECTED. Sydney, Dec. 6. The municipal and shire council elections were held yesterday throughout New South Wales, outside the County of Cumberland which embraces the metropolitan area where the polling was postponed by a Labour Government proclamation. Everywhere the results were against Labour, and even in towns formerly controlled by Labour and the coalfields districts, Scullin supporters and Lang planners alike were rejected almost universally. Only one small town, Nyngan, thus far reports a Labour success, increasing from three to five in a six seat council.

House Senate New South Wales .. .. 93 13 Victoria .. .. .. 61 9 Queensland .. .. .. 20 7 South Australia .. .. 22 7 West Australia .. .. 10 6 Tasmania .. .. .. 12 12 Northern Territory .. 3 0

Candidates United Australia 20 United Country 9 All for Australia , 1 Federal Labour or Scullinites 23 Langite Labour 24 Independents 10 Communists 4 Victoria (20 Seats). United Australia 18 United Country .. .. .. 8 Federal Labour • • •. .. 20 Langite .. .. .. .. 1 Independents .. • ■ .. 11 Communists 3 Queensland (10 Seats). United Australia .. .. .. 7 United Country • • • • Federal Labour 6 Langites 2 Independents .. .. .. ,.. 3 South Australia (Seven Seats). United Australia 7 Federal Labour 6 Langites .. 2 Independents .. 6 Cnmmnnista 1 West Australia (Five Seats). United Australia 2 United Country 2 Federal Labour 3 Independents .. .. .. .. 3 Tasmania (Five Seats). United Australia 5 Federal Labour .. >.., .. 0 Independents .. .. .. .. 2 Northern Territory. One seat member entitled to debate, but not to vote. Federal Labour .. .. .. 1 Independents .. 2 FOB THE SENATE. New South Wales. United Australia .. .. 3 Federal Labour .. .. .. 3. Lang Labour |.« .. ... ... 3 Independents .. .• •• .. 3 Communist .. .. •• 1 Victoria. United Australia 3 Federal Labour »« »• .. 3 Independents 2 Communist 1 Queensland. United Australia .. .. 3 Federal Labour .. ... .. 3 Communists .. |.« ... 1 South Australia. United Australia .. .. .. 3 Federal Labour 3 Communist .. .. .. .. 1 West Australia. United Australia 3 Federal Labour .. .. .. 3 Tasmania. United Australia J Federal Labour .. . .. 3 Independent 1