ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 6, 7 December 1931, Page 7

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

FEDERAL NOMINATIONS. HOUSE AND SENATE. FEVERISH ACTIVITIES. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

SYDNEY, Dec. 6

Federal Parliamentary nominations closed on Saturday throughout Australia for 75 seats in the House of Representatives and 12 seats in the Senate, one-third of whose numbers retire. The nominations total 225 for the House and 54 for the Senate.

With the polling day only a fortnight away, the candidates are feverishly engaged in their campaign. They represent six parties—the United Australia Party, led by Alessrs Lyons and Latham; tlie United Country Party, led by Dr. Earle Page; tlie All-for-Australia League, the leadership of which lacks definition; the official Federal Labour Party, under the banner of Messrs Scullin and Theodore; the Socialist or Langite Labour, led by Air Beasley, who brought about the crisis in the House; and some ’independents and a handful of Communists. The formidable list is made up as follows : House of Representatives. Senate. New South Wales 96 13 Victoria 60 9 Queensland 21 7 South*Australia 22 7 West Australia 11 6 Tasmania 12 12 Northern Territory 3 0 The Territory has only one nonvoting representative. An analysis of the nominations so far as they are definable shows for the House of Representatives : New South Wales (twenty-eight seats): United Australia Party candidates, 20; United Country PartyJ 9; All-for-Australia League, -; Federal Labour or Scullinites, 23; Langite Labour, 24; Independents, 10; Communists, 4. Victoria (twenty seats): United Australia, 18; United Country, 8; Federal Labour, 20; Langite, 1; Independents, 11; Communists, 3. Queensland (ten seats): United Australia, 7; United Country. 2; Federal Labour, 6; Langites, 2; Independents, 3. South Australia (seven seats): United Australia, 7; Federal Labour, 6; Langites, 2; Independents, 6; Communist, 1. West Australia (five seats): United Australia, 2; United Country, 2; Federal Labour, 3; Independents, 3. Tasmania (five seats): United Australia, 5; Federal Labour, 5; Independents, 2. Northern Territory (one seat, member entitled to debate but not to vote): Federal Labour, 1; Independents, 2. For the Senate the nominations are:

New South Wales: United Au.stra-: lia, 3; Federal Labour, 3; Lang Labour, 3; Independents, 3; Communist,

Victoria: United Australia, 3; Federal Labour, 3; Independents, 2; Communist, 1. Queensland: United Australia, 3; Federal .Labour, 3; Communist, 1. South Australia: United Australia, 3; Federal Labour, 3; Communist, 1. West Australia :' United Australia, 3; Federal Labour, 3; Independent 1.

Tasmania: United Australia 8; Federal Labour, 3, The South Australian Independents include Airs Goode and Mr Crawford Vaughan, a former Premier. A surprise nomination in New South Wales was Air Dooley, ex-Premier, as Independent “Straight Labour.” 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 be absorbed by the United Australia Party, although willing to co-operate with it and espouse the broad principles of its policy, namely, safe and sane administration, sound finance, national rehabilitation along orthodox practical lines. The only difference in their respective policies relates to the 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 and a Country Party man is running against the accredited nominees of their parties, an action which is viewed with disfavour.

Air 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 the Beasleyites will win a couple of metropolitan seats from the Scullin Party owing to Air Lang’s dominating influence in the industrial areas, and that the United Australia Party will also regain several seats which were lost at the last election to Labour.

Air E. G. Theodore is having a stormy time in his own constituency at Dally, and his banking policy has, according to critics, become a millstone round his and his leader’s necks. Air Theodore in turn scorns the Beas-ley-cum-Lang plan, which he describes as “a vacuum surrounded b" 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 and some candidates are using aeroplanes. Anti-Labour men are making a strong point of plans to deal with the Communist menace, also the Prime Alinister’s failure to live up to his lavish promises for the relief of unemployment, assistance to primary producers and the shortcomings of Langism. The Labour campaign in the country is likely to be restricted owing to the shortness of time before the election. Air Lyons, who is being opposed in liis own electorate, Wilmqt, Tasmania-, by a former Alinisterial colleague, Air G. S. Becker, in +he Tasmanian Parliament, says that he will not be surprised if fourteen seats are lost by the Scullin Government in New South Wales, where the antiLabour forces will secure a majority, while he expects the Senate candidates of the United Australia .Party to secure a sweeping victory. Air Stanley Bruce has to fight Jr. Haywood, a Labourite, in Flinders. Two representatives in Queensland, one in Victoria and two in West Australia, have been returned unopposed. The New South Wales State Parliament has adjourned until December

21 to enable members to participate in the Federal campaign. LABOUR DEBACLE. N.S.W. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. SYDNEY, Dec. 6. Municipal and shire council elections were held yesterday throughout New South Wales outside the county of Cumberland, which embraces the metropolitan area, where polling was postponed by the Labour Government’s proclamation. Everywhere the results were against the Labour candidates, even in towns formerly controlled by Labour, and the coalfields districts.

Supporters of Mr Scullin and the Lang Plan 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.

MR BRUCE’S POLICY STATEMENT.

CRITICISM OF. MR SCULLIN,

LONDON, Dec. 5. Mr' Stanley Bruce, in a policy statement issued after the speeches by Messrs J. H. Scullin and Mr J. A. Lyons, declares that Mr Scullin ■ lost the greatest opportunity ever presented to an Australian statesman when, on returning from England, he put party before country, exhibiting vacillation, lack of courage and true leadership, which disgusted even his own followers. “The re-election of Mr Scullin’s party will lead to an abandonment of the rehabilitation scheme, with disastrous world-wide reactions,” he says. _ “Mr Scullin’s fanaticism on the question of tariffs is a real danger to Australia. “Under the Government’s arbitration policy 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 extirpated.” COMMUNIST MENACE. SYDNEY, Dec. 5. Speaking at Newcastle, Mr Hardy, a United Party candidate for tlj© Senate, said that his party if returned to power would pass a law that would enable them to run the Communists out of the oountry.