N.S.W. ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1930, Page 5

N.S.W. ELECTIONS

POLLING OX SATURDAY

(Australian Press Association.)

(Received this day at 1.5 p.rn.) SYDNEY, Oct. 21

Polling for New South Dales elec.tions to-morrow is an event of outstanding political significance having regard to Australia’s grave financial plight. There has never been a campaign in which the .issue was so vital, and never before has the rest iff Australia looked forward so anxiously to the outcome.

It has oft times been stated lately that. New South Wales polities have dominated the rest of tire Commonwealth, which is possibly dim to tin overwhelming influence wielded by Premier Bavin and Treasurer Stevens, in all the reo-mt financial negotiations to right the ship of state. The Federal Labour Ministry which was expected during the month to annoumte its forthcoming sessional programme embodying a scheme lot balancing' the budget in accordance with the understandings arrived u.t in the Melbourne financial conference, has done no more than intimate its plan icon torn plates savings in public expenditure of four and a half millions sterling, and according to the press, it is content to wait until after October 25 to. see how the cat jumps. It- would appear therefore that the Federal Ministry has more than a . passing interest in the result of the New South Wales elections,

The campaign which is now drawhug to a close has been noteworthy for its 'bitterness, its. big crop of wiits for libel and slander, and the accuracy with which they have found their mark, but above all its depressing effects upon trade and industry. Both sides as usual anticipate a victory. Labour by leason of the record of unempayment and distress expect to sweep the. polls in the Metropolitan area and hope also' that some cherished seats in rue country will be wrested from their opponents on the strength of promises to- break up large estates, expend millions on the provision of a wheat guarantee and closer settlement.) On the other-hand Government forces are sanguine of holding their own in the Metropolis and gaining a few seats in the country at the expense of Labour. • Since last election in 1927 there has been a j redistribution of electoral boundaries,'which has somehat weakened the position of Labour in rural constituencies, and rendering it difficult to*'predict wliat may happen in some urban" electorates. However Government expects to gain Goulbourn. Maitland and Young in the country, while, it has hopes of taking Concord, and Hurstville from Labour in the city. Three other suburban* seats, Parramatta, Waverley, and Dmmmoyne, the latter formerly Government, are in the balance.

Whereas ten days ago there, was a strong body of public opinion inclined to favour Labour’s chances gaining office on, the borrow or bust slogan, there is now q consensus of opinion that anti-Labour forces will again be returned on the, common sense principle of safety first. The state, of parties in the last Parliament was Nationalist s thirty-five, Country Party, elected Inpedendents two, Labour, forty.,...