THE H.B. TRIBUNE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1931 THE FEDERAL ELECTION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 234, 15 September 1934, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1931 THE FEDERAL ELECTION.

According to Australian press reports that have been coming through the Federal general election campaign that is to culminate at the polls to-day has been one of the quietest experienced since federation was inaugurated at the beginning of the century. Even the Labour Party, which can generally be relied upon to work up some measure of demonstrative enthusiasm, lias on this occasion fallen short of expectations, and even Mr. Jack Lang’s customary tireworks would seem to a great extent to have suffered from a 'moisture-laden atmosphere. Candidates of all parties arc said to have had entirely disappointing attendances at many of their meetings, a fact which is, however, to some extent accounted for by the use of the radio, more general than on any previous like occasion, combined with the unaccustomed bad weather that has been so much in evidence. In any event, there has been a most notable lack of animation about the campaign, such indeed as to cause doubt as to whether the electors will turn out in anything like full force to-day.

Perhaps the absence of the fiery element is due to the fact that the questions at issue do not lend themselves very much 1o pyrotechnic dispays. As between Labour, both Scullinites and Langites, on the one hand, and the more or less loose combination of the United Australia Party and the United'Country Party, on the other, the main bone of contention is the question of banking policy. Both Labour sections are out for establishing full political control over the whole banking system, while the other parties

are well content to leave things as they are in this respect. Next in importance eomes the question of import duties, in connection with which the position is one of considerable difficulty for the Government, especially in its relations with the Country Party. The latter, under the leadership of Dr. Earle Page, with only rural interest to consider, is out for drastic reductions in the existing tariffs. The United Australia Party, under the Prime Minister. Mr. Lyons, has to give full consideration to those engaged in the manufacturing industries, who are, of course, bent on getting as much protection as they can against outside competition. Here, too, the position is further complicated because Labour is out decidedly for protection, while Mr. Lyons has, in this connection, to trim his sails between the demands of the primary and Ihe secondary industrialists. These are purely economic questions that are not calculated to move the multitude to any great manifestation of feeling, either one way or the other, and hence, no doubt, the comparative tranquility that pervades the political arena. It is more than likely, therefore, that, outside the more thoughful elements in the electorate, voting will be guided very largely by old party allegiances and by the individual interests affected by the main issues. As far as the parties arc

concerned there is some fairly friendly understanding between the United Australia Pai-ty, which now runs the Government on a very bare majority, and the United Country Party, which has hitherto afforded it general support as against the Labour Opposition. There are several electorates for which both of these parties have nominated candidates, but the risks of vote-split-ting are greatly reduced by the system of preferential voting that will be in operation. When it comes to counting preferences it will no doubt be found that they will have been cast by the adherents of each party in favour of the candidates of the other.

As between the two Labour factions, the Federal under Mr. Scullin and the State led by Mr Lang and Mr. Beasley the position is not quite so easy to define. They are, indeed, very much at loggerheads, and it may be open to doubt as to how far the more moderate section supporting Mr. Seullin will be prepared to give the Lang-Beasly nominees even their second vote. Broadly speaking, although Mr. Lang would seem to have retained a fair grip among the Labourites of his own State, and especially in and around Sydney, his stock would appear to be at a very considerable discount elsewhere. The very quietness of the election campaign, .affording but little outlet for the exhibition of popular feeling, makes any confident prophecy all the more difficult. If, however, wc are to accept Australian press opinion, seemingly justified by the good reception Mr. Lyons has met with during his tour of the various States, the Government have a very good chance of retaining their position, possibly indeed with a slightly increased majority of their own direct supporters in the House. More probable, perhaps, is a situation in which they will still have to shape a course to keep Country Barty members on their side.