ELECTION IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 11

ELECTION IN AUSTRALIA.

CAMPAIGN PREPARATIONS.

PEOPLE'S PARTY FORMED.

TWO PRINCIPAL ISSUES.

ARBITRATION AND TAXES.

(Received September 17, 5,5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 17

A new Federal political party has been formed. It is called the People's Party and will avowedly be Nationalist in sentiment.

The party has decided to contest fivo seats in the neighbourhood of Sydney, but will not oppose Mr. W. M. Hughes, at North Sydney, nor Lieutonant-Commander W. M. Murks, at Wcntworth.

Tho personnel of tho People's Party, its leaders and its prospective candidates has not yet been announced. Tho Labour Parly to-day decided upon an intensive campaign with the object of winning eight Federal seats. Until the election is over all State issues and all the domestic politics of the unions are to be set aside.

There is considerable activity in political circles in preparation for the election which is to bo held on October 12, The electoral authorities, caught unawares, are working overtime on the rolls, etc. Party organisations all over Australia are preparing for a whirlwind campaign the issues in which have been narrowed down practically to two. The first issue is whether the Commonwealth Arbitration Court should be abolished, and the second is the propriety of the Treasurer's recent proposals to tax amusements, cinema films, beer and spirits, which tho Bruce Government regarded as luxuries. Vigorous opposition to the proposed lax is being expressed by tho directors of picture organisations, who havo embarked upon a publicity crusado against the Government's proposals through their theatres, Mr. Bruce now announces his intention of modifying the original taxation proposals with the idea of exempting those theatres where the weekly receipts arc not above £IOO. Mr. Bruce says Parliament would bo asked to impose a tax of 12£ per cent', upon payments made to persons outside the Commonwealth by film importers for non-British films. Mr. Robert Coot, has decided to contest a Queensland seat in defiance of Dr. Earle Page, who cabled to him announcing that another candidate had been chosen. Mr. Coot complains that he has been sacrificed by Dr. Page. Mr. M. A. Noble, international cricketer, has submitted his name for selection as Nationalist candidate for Wcntworth, in opposition to LieutenantCommander Marks, The latter and Mr. Hughes have not yet staled whether they intend to nominate with the Nationalists. A manifesto issued by the Nationalist Party promises increased employment and a reduction in the cost of living. It bitterly assails Mr. Hughes as a man "who, for six years, has manoeuvred to betray his parly." Mr. Bruce is to deliver a policy speech to-morrow evening at Dandenong. This is a week earlier than was originally arranged. Afterwards tho Prime Minister will visit Sydney. From here he will go by aeroplane to Brisbane and back to Victoria.

JIB. MAUIt'S DILEMMA.

PROPOSAL TO FLY BACK.

KINGSFORD SMITH SOUGHT. Australian and N.Z. Tress Association. LONDON. Sept. 16. The Australian delegate to the League of Nations, Mr. C. W. C. Marr, who is standing for his electorate, Parkes, for which ho was Nationalist member in the last Federal House of Representatives, and who is unable to reach Australia by steamer before the election, is trying to communicate with Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, who is on the Continent. His purpose is to fly to Australia..