QUEENSLAND POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18364, 3 April 1923, Page 5

QUEENSLAND POLITICS.

AN EARLY ELECTION. ' POLITICAL BOMBSHELL. •PREMIER'S DRAMATIC MOVE. [from OUR own correspondent.] SYDNEY. March 29.Without a shadow-of warning Queensland, which has had a Labour Government for eight years, has been thrown prematurely into the throes of what promises to be the bitterest election campaign in its history. The Premier, Mr. Theodore, is noted for his taciturnity and the small measure of confidence which he shares with even his colleagues in the Ministry, but this latest move, taking his supporters and opponents alike completely by surprise, has eclipsed any previous sensation for which h% has been responsible. In the ordinary course of events the elections would have been due in October, hut a careful review of the situation reveals sound reasons which may'have'actuated Mr. Theodore in making an unexpected and short-notice, appeal at this juncture. He finds the strenuous negotiations which have been proceeding to establish unity in the Opposition still uncompleted, and mutual suspicion still existing, and he sees the spectre of Labour disintegration which has long been threatening the movement throughout Australia, actually stalking throughout the neighbouring State ' of New ." South Wales and reducing the party to chaos. Apart from these weighty circumstances it is said that the wells of loan moneys which have been lavishly replenished from time to timo during the past few years are .running dry, and that increased unemployment between now and October is inevitable. So that in fixing the election for May 18, with no assembly of Parliament in the . interim, Mr. Theodore is probably serving the best interests of his party. • Events immediately succeeding the Premier's announcement make it clear that the election will be fought on a fairly clear-cut issue of Socialism versus Anti-Socialism. , Although an amalgamation of the branches" of the Opposition is not expected it is fairly certain that there will be an understanding which will enable a united appeal to be made to the people'in the interests of Anti-Socialism. The fact of Mr. Theodore's having been forced by the recent State Labour Con-. ference to accept the notorious " Red Objective '*■ —socialisation of industry which ho originally fought tooth and. nail in the Federal Conference, and condemned' as Communism, crystallised the issue. Much is being made by the Anti-Socialists of the growth of unemployment and the cost of living and the deterioration of the financial stability of the State enterprises that has taken place under the Labour regime, and some of the figures quoted are indeed striking. ! Before the Labour Party came into office eight years ago the railways were a paying proposition, but now the daily loss is estimated at £4776. Since 1916 taxation has increased by 118.68 per cent. Since 1918 outdoor relief ■•,, to destitute people has . increased : from £9152 to £117,018. In ten years, eight of which have been under Labour rule, the public debt of Queensland has ' increased from 48 to 85 millions. LIKELIHOOD OP A CHANGE. FORMER LEGISLATOR'S VIEW. A forecast of a possible change in the Government of Queensland was given yesterday by the Hon. A. Davey, who for 15 years was a member of the late Legislative Council in that Slate. Mr. Davey, accompanied by his wife, is a through passenger ■. in the steamer Makura, and is engaged upon, an extended business and pleasure trip to England and the, Continent. - -:; ■ Referring to the Queensland general election, which takes place next month, Mr.' Davey said there was a likelihood of the present Government being defeated, and of the National Party being returned to power once again. • ' ' j Mr. Davey is a native of Sussex, England, but for over 40 years he has resided in Queensland, mostly in the northern districts. He .is the managing director of a large boot manufacturing . business in Brisbane. . . ; j