Electors’ Decisive Verdict

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 152, 13 June 1932, Page 8

Electors’ Decisive Verdict

Tremendous Swing away from Labour Majority of 40 for Stevens-Bruxner Government “ A Glorious Victory ” Sydney, June 12. In the New South Wales election the Government secured a sweeping victory and will probably have 65 seats in tne new House and the Langites 25. The defeat of the Lar,; Labour forces was generally expected outside the ranks of that party. When the checking of primary votes ceased early this morning the state of the parties appeared to be United Australia 49 United Country Unity Party 2 Labour . 25 Other parties and groups 0 What is described as the United Party consists o' candidates supporting the Government policy and endorsed by either the United Australia Party or Country Party for the same electorate. Two such candidates have already been elected. The state of the parties in the last New South Wales Parliament was:— State Labour 55 Nationalists Country Party 14 Thus State Labour lost 39 seats, United Australia gained 21 and Country gained 9. There was not one United or County Party supporter defeated. Even in the city industrial constituencies a tremendous swing from Labour was apparent. Mr. Stevens will meet the new Parliament at the head of a United Government pledged to adhere to the Premiers plan with an unparalleled majority of roughly 40. Certainly a couple of seats are still in doubt, but the odds are definitely against Labour. Scenes of tremendous enthusiasm greeted the announcement of the progress figures. In the suburbs large crowds listened to radio broadcasts in the streets and at various centres, particularly places of entertainment; indeed, in no pre vious election has the wireless played such a large part. It was impossible for anyone outdoors not to be aware of the progress of the poll.

Both in the city and in the country there was an unmistakeable atmosphere of lurking danger and an emphatic demand for a return to a policy of sanity and honesty, -nd freedom for Parliamentary Government. In some quarters the belief was cherished that the Lang Party would more than hold its own because of fear on the part of worker's that ruthless slashing of wages would follow the return of the Stevens-Brux-ner party.

The election thus can be regarded as the most momentous in the history of New South Wales and the federation of opponents of Langism made no secret of their fears for the future. All conversation during the brief but bitter campaign turned on the political events of the past 18 months and what might have happened if a renewal of confidence were given to Labour. Election day could not come quickly enough for most people, whose minds were made up a fortnight ago.

GRIMNESS ON VOTERS’ FACES. The fight resolved itself into clear cut issues—acceptance or rejection of the Premiers’ plan, as in Victoria and Queensland, and the imposition or otherwise of what has been termed the wealth levy. Grimness was written on every voter’s face and the seriousness of the decision of to-day’s poll was everywhere apparent. The crisis originated with the Governor’s action in sending the ex-Premier for trial before a jury of the people, who have now given their answer in a most convincing manner, determining the fate of several Ministers in the Lang administration and the rest of the rank and file of the Parliamentary Labour Party. What has happened to the Lang Party is precisely what happened at the last State election to the antiLabour forces —perhaps more accentuated in Mr Lang’s case. The devastating current of opinion which swamped the Lang Party in the Metropolitan area spread throughout the State. Personal popularity was useless in stemtnin g the tide. One Labourite after another went under. It is rather difficult to estimate the probable state of parties before midnight on polling days, but on this occasion nothing is left in doubt, so pronounced was the swing to the Government side throughout the country and in many Metropolitan constituencies. MR. LANG’S EXCUSE. Labour’s slogan, “Lang is right,” Was turned all sorts of ways by exuberant victors, perhaps the most appropriate being “Lang is right out” and “Lang is left.” Mr Lang himself attributed the delaele 'to “poisonous press proparanda.” He said that the policy of

suppression and distortion fooled the people, who were now going to suffer.

The scenes at the United and Country Party offices were extremely joyous. Mr Stevens was the recipient of all round hand shakes, compliments and felicitations. Business men controlling big enterprises were spontaneous in their expressions that there will be a revival of trade and industry as a result of the people’s verdict.

“Wo never doubted that the heart of Australia rang true,” commented Mr Stevens. “This glorious victory over Langism and dishonesty has proved to the whole world that Australians stand for probity and integrity. This is no ordinary triumph. It affords a complete sense of satisfaction. We have checkmated the forces of evil which have had a stranglehold on this fair State for over 18 months.” Federal Labour, whoso nominees contested 43 city and country seats, whose policy generally conflicted with Mr Lang’s on the side of moderation, and ■whose desire was to see the downfall of the Lang Barty because of the mischief it wrought at the last Federal election, had hopes of picking up a couple of seats, possibly Mr Lang’s. Although a neck and neck struggle went on at Auburn between Mr Lang and Mr Coleman, the position was put beyond doubt after midnight, when Mr Lang obtained an absolute majority over his Federal Labour adversary of 742, assuring his return. Nothing so thrilling was provided in any previous contest. Mr Lang’s majority in 1930 was 8965.

Ministers of the Lang administration who ha ■ fallen by the wayside are Messrs Tully, Ely, Dunn, Gosling and Lamaro; in fact, so great is the debacle that only two of his Ministers at present survive—namely, Messrs Davidson and McKell, while Mr Davies, former Minister of Education, whose

constituents number thousands of south coast miners, looks like being defeated.