HAND FORCED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 26 June 1943, Page 5

HAND FORCED

MR CURTIN'S ACTION SPECULATION ON ELECTION RESULT Sydney, June 25. After repeatedly saying that he saw no reason for an early election, the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) has been forced against his will to the conclusion that his Government cannot carry on. His hand was forced finally by the stubbornness of the Opposition, which in the past few days disclosed unexpected confidence about an election result.

The earliest date on which elections can be held is 7th August, but 21st August is expected to be polling day. The Curtin Government has been in office for nearly 21 months. Mr Curtin was commissioned to form a Government in October, 1941, after the defeat of the Fadden Government on its Budget proposals. The Labour Government has since depended on the vote of two Victorian Independent members, Messrs Coles and Wilson. Ever since the last parliamentary sittings, the majority of senior Ministers has favoured the earliest possible appeal to the country, but Mr Curtin has consistently opposed this course. His dissolution announcement came as a surprise to the rank and file members of his own party.

The controversy raging around the Minister of Labour, Mr Ward, now relieved of his duties pending a Royal Commission of enquiry, may be a vital election issue.

Opposition members are reported to believe that the Government record of political unrest and the bad tactical position in which Mr Ward has been manoeuvred, will help them at the elections. Labour on the other hand is pinning its hope to its war administration and will claim credit for a great improvement in Australia’s defence position. VITAL SENATE VOTE The Senate vote will be vital in the coming elections. Even if Labour is returned with a working majority in the House of Representatives it will remain in its present hopeless position if it is in a minority in the senate. At present the Government has seventeen Senators to the Opposition 19. Fourteen Labour Senators and only five Opposition Senators must go to the polls. For Labour to receive a majority all the retiring 14 Labour Senators must be returned and at least two new Labour Senators must be elected. Labour must therefore win every State —which most political correspondents consider very unlikely. In the House of Representatives Labour gained four seats at the Federal elections in 1940. Labour believes it can win more seats in New South Wales and that it may even pick up an odd seat in other States. The Opposition parties feel they can consolidate their positions in other States and regain some of their lost ground in New South Wales. It is expected that 4,500,000 electors will go to the polls. An important influence on the result will be the vote for servicemen under 21. The Government’s decision to hold the election also means that the Bill to provide unemployment sickness benefits will not be introduced in this Parliament. Mr Curtin will make the Bill’s proposal a feature of his policy speech.