EVE OF THE ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 11

EVE OF THE ELECTION.

NEW SOUTH WALES' POLLS. CLOSE CONTEST ANTICIPATED J TEST OF LABOUR POLICY. END OF BITTER CAMPAIGN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received October 7, 8.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z, SYDNEY. Oct. 7. The general election of members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly will take place to-morrow. The Labour Government, led by Mr. J. T. Lang, is appealing to the country. The final rallies of all political parties to-night brought to a close' a most strenuous and bitter campaign fight. This election is regarded as more important and ominous than any previously held in New South Wales—the turning of the ways, as it has been described. After a term in which the Labour Government has succeeded in carrying a number of its sweeping ideals into effect, thereby loading manufacturing and trading classes with heavily increased burdens, and placing the financial position of the State in a dubious condition, it is bidding hard to retain office. It is making generous promises of further legislation in a similar direction, and also promises of further constitutional changes to meet the views of labour. The Nationalists, on the other hand, make their appeal to the electors by urging all who love their country and want a clean, impartial and constitutional Government, lessening the principal burdens, the restoration of financial stability and non-class government, to seize the opportunity of putting an end to the present unsettled and unsatisfactory conditions. Labour Party Divided. The leaders of the opposing parties are equally confident of carrying the day, each predicting he will win 50 of the total of 90 seats and his opponent 40. There -are various factors to be taken into account in these calculations. The election is'the first to be held under the recently restored single electorate system and the feeling seems to be that this may slightly favour the Nationalists. It is anticipated that a number of seats where, under the grouped electorates, there were narrow majorities may turn ever, although the Labour Party claims the change system will favour it. Labour will meet the electorate as a divided party. Independents, mostly exMinisters and prominent ex-members of the former Lang Ministry, and the Lang Party, are splitting the vote with the selected Labour candidates, and a few of them, old favourites and sound on Labour principles, appear to ha%'e a good chance of holding their own. It is possible, in the event of a narrow victory either way for the main forces, that this small section may be in a position to hold the balance of power in the new Parliament. , Prospects of Nationalists. The Nationalist pact, comprising the Nationalist and Country parties, will face the election in better liaison than ever. In a few x seats there will be vote- - splitting, owing to Independent Nationalists intervening, but in none of these instances is this factor considered sufficient to endanger a seat. The second count, which is provided for where over two candidates stand, is regarded as sufficient to ensure safety. Generally speaking, the view of the electorate appean> to be that, all things considered, the Nationalists have a reasonable hope of displacing the Lang Government. Certainly the prospects of the Nationalists are better than at the last election two and a-half years ago, but it would be venturesome to prophesy, and a narrow majority either way is practically certain. Mr. Lang's party, with its retinue of extremists, decided a few weeks ago to jettison its moderate wing, which had been a thorn in the Government's side for some time. The members of tins wine, however, have shown that they are not disposed to walk the political plank without a vigorous fight and about fifty of their number are contesting seats as' Independent Labour candidates. Ihe main opposition party is the Nationalists, who are led by Mr. T. R. Bavin, while working largely in conjunction with the Nationalists is the Country Party under the leadership of Mr. E. A. Buttenshaw. The polling will be contested under the preferential system, with single electorates There are 90 constituencies and there are contests in 89 of these, one candidate —a sitting member—having been re-elected unopposed. The total •number of candidates, including four women, is nearly 230. . There are many circumstances making the present contest of exceptional interest. The majority of Mr. Lang s Government, which has been in power since 1925, has always been narrow and once or twice it has threatened to disappear, but Mr. Lang and his followers have kept their hold on office up to the last, and despite pally vicissitudes have put into effect some highly contentious measures. Outstanding features of the Government's career are tne Premier's quarrel with the Legislative Council, his threat to abolish it, his subsequent attempt to swamp it-with new nominees, and his quarrel with he State Governor, Sir Dudley de Chan, over the latter's refusal to appoint as many members as Mr. Lans; wisned to have there. There have been serious internal disputes in Mr. Lang's party. Last year there was an attempt to depose Mr. Lang, and put Mr. Loughlin, Minister oi Lan. dsin his place. The strong power behind the Labour Party, the Labour Conference, quashed the movement, but Mr. Loughlin resigned from the Ministry, and with two followers seceded to form a Coun ; y Labour Party. Defeat threatened the Government, a? these three \ c 'l* vital A promise to withdraw the Budg and appeal to the country early this year, secured a reprieve, during which the situation changed, an erring supporter returned and Mr. Lang carried on. Dissension broke out again-tins year, ihe faction ' being led this time by Mr Mutch, formerly Minister of Education. It invaded Cabinet again, but, as before, Mr Lang had the unswerving support oi industrial Labour, especially of th * «* treme wing Nevertheless the yuarrel. resulted in a serious split in he old ranks, the result being that a number of sitting members toe* the official nomination at th. selection ballots. The classification oi candidates repre; renting the three principal parties is as follows:—Labour {Government) 85, i Nationalists. 68: Country P ar^ v - T are also about 50 Independents, mclud ng candidates claiming to represent he National Pary, the Labour Party, the Country Party, and two Protestant Labour Partv candidates. In 54 electorates there will be straight-out contests between the nominees of the National-Country Party and the Labour Party. , * _ Mr. Lang, who is a candidalte for 'Auburn, is being opposed by Mr. P.JMinihan (Independent Labour), a " Minister, and Mr. T. Cheetham (Inde pendent). Mr, Bav.n .«; opposed Gordon district by Mr. G. y , (Labour). J