POLL TO-DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 13

POLL TO-DAY

FEDERAL ELECTION PROSPECTS REVIEWED anti-labour forces VICTORY EXPECTED THE MAIN ISSUES Si Tcfc srrapb—'Press Association—Copyright (Received September 14. 11.55 p.m.) SYDNEY. <3ont. 14 The sta<ie is all set for i\<> Federal goncr.il election to-morrow Tho Prime Minister. Mr. .T. A. Jjvons. his Ministers and the majority of the influential newspapers predict a substantial victory for the non-Labour forces. Whether or not the Government tvill obtain a clear majority over all K the other parties, as at the last election iu 1931, is a matter of conjecture. The fact remains, however, that the Government expects to retain more than 95 per cent of its seats, also to capture two from the Country Party in electorates where there is a strained feeling about the tariff. The outstanding issue of the election is the socialisation of credit advocated b\ the combined Federal and State Labour forces, led respectively by Mr. .1 H. Scullin and Mr. .T. A. Beasley. Whatever slight difference of opinion exists between the United Australia Party and the United Country Party relates to the tariff.

Labour expects to win bank a few of the seats lost at the last election — two in New South Wales, two in Victoria and one in Western Australia. On the other hand, Labour may lose two in New South Wales and one in Queensland, owing to the redistribution of boundaries. Exactly what part will be played by the Douglas Credit candidates at tomorrow's poll remains to be seen, but the consensus of opinion is i;hat they will prejudice Labour's chances where the margin is likely to be narrow. The state of parties in the last Parliament was as follows: — United Australia Party . . . . 38 United Country Party 16 Federal Labour Party 14 Beasley or Lang Labour Group . . 5 Independents • • • • 2 Total 75 The New House of Representatives, owing to the elimination of the Angas seat, South Australia, will comprise only 74 members. In order to obtain a majority over the other parties, the combined Labour groups will require to double their present strength of 19. The number of persons enrolled throughout Australia, for the poll is 3,906,092, compared with 3,652,196 enrolled at the general election of 1931. MANY CANDIDATES NUMBER A RECORD

THE PARTIES REPRESENTED

The interest aroused in the Federal election is reflected in the record number of candidates offering. The total is 329, compared 'with 233 who came forward at the last election in 1931. Broadly speaking, the contending interests fall into four parties, the United Australia Party, under Mr. J. A. Lyoris, which has held office since December, 1931; the Australian Country Party, under Dr. Earle Page; the Australian Labour Party, under Mr. J. H. Sculliri, LeadeJ of the Opposition and ex-Prime Minister; and the Lang Labour or State Labour Party, under Mr. J. A. Beasley. Mr. Lang is not seeking election.

These parties account for 187 of the 262 candidates who will contest seats in the House of Representatives and for a majority of the 67 who are seeking places in the Senate. Other candidates are campaigning under various banners—United Country, Country Party Progressive, Douglas Credit, Independent Labour, Independent Australia United, Communist. Socialist and Independent. For the House of Representatives Douglas Credit candidates number 34 and Comjnunists 20. Sixty-two candidates were nominated for the Victorian seats in the House of Representatives. In the 1931 election there were 61 nominations. At this election all seats will be contested, but in the last election the Gippsland seat, Jrhich is held for the Country Party by

Mr. Paterson, was not contested. The United Australia Party is contesting all seats except Eeliuea and Gippsland. Ihe federal Labour Party is contesting all seats except Wimmcra. In Queensland 43 candidates were nominated for 13 Federal seats. Straight out contests between two candidates will be fought in only two divisions—Darling Downs and Capricornia. There are four candidates for Brisbane, Herbert and W ide Bay divisions, and three for Griffith, Kennedy, Lillev, Maranoa and Moreton seats. At the last Federal election Messrs. J. Francis and B. H. C'orser were returned unopposed, but on this occasion the TJ.A.P. and U.C.P. and Labour parties are contesting every seat, while three other organisations have an enlarged number of candidates. For the three Queensland vacancies in the Senate there are 12 nominations. With 25 for the House of Representatives and six for the Senate, the number of nominations in South Australia is a record. The number of candidates in Boothby and Adelaide, six, is a record in each. In Western Australia there are 27 candidates for eight seats, the greatest number for many years. For the first time there are five Douglas Social Credit candidates, but they are standing as independents and without official sanction of the Douglas Credit movement. Three are for the Senate, one for Fremantle and one for Forrest. For the first time, too, there are three secession candidates, two for tho Senate, one described as a " Western Australian Nationalist," and one for Perth. The campaign is reported to have been a surprisingly quiet one. Mr. Lyons is the one leader who has expressed complete confidence in the result. The Lang Labour Party is thought likely to score in the metropolitan seats around Sydney. Tasmania is said to be so proud of the fact that Mr. Lyons is the first Tasmanian Prime. Minister that the people there are not considered likely to vote in a way that would embarrass him in the least. Candidates will be elected on the preferential system of voting as opposed to the "first-past-the-post" system in vogue in New South Wales, where, however, the elector is given the option of a preferential vote. NEW ZEALAND CLAY OFFER TO JAPANESE AUCKLAND COAST DEPOSIT (Received September 15. 1.15 a.m.) KOBE, Sept. 14 Clay for the manufacture of china is diminishing and the Nagoya Pottery Guild is keenly interested in an offer received from New Zealand for the exploitation of a newly-discovered vein of excellent clay on the east coast of tho Auckland province. A New Zealand company has offered a site, with a factory building and rights, also shipping facilities. A sample shipment has been requested as it is regarded as an opportunity to balance the lop-sided trade between New Zealand and Japan.