EARLY ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 6

EARLY ELECTION

STATE OF VICTORIA COUNCIL REFORM QUESTION THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND POLLING DAY NEXT WEEK [from otm own correspondent] MELBOURNE, Sept. 10 Victoria . unexpectedly faces an election for the Legislative Assembly- on October 2, almost six months before the due date V( The pretext is the failure of the Legislative Council to pass a bill for its own reform, but those who are competent to read the political signs agree that the Premier, ZMr. A. A. Dunstan, who is a master of strategy, was really waiting for a plausible excuse to precipitate an election in the hope of strengthening his party's position while conditions are favourable. Twice the Legislative Council has failed to pass, by the statutory majority of IS votes, the Constitution (Reform) Bill, although on both occasions a bare majority has been obtained. When the Council discussed the bill this session

it agreed to ,accept numerous liberalising amendments, but a conflict arose z on the mode of settling deadlocks between the two Houses. Ministry Supporters' View. The Opposition wanted such issues to ' hn decided by referendum, but the supporters of the Ministry held to the view, laid down in the bill, that an election for the Legislative Assembly should be held on such issues and that, if the result were favourable to the Ministry, a bill could be reintroduced and passed without the concurrence of the Council. - As a background to the present political situation in the. State, it should bo remembered that the issue of Legislative Council reform was not raised at the last 7 election except, by the Labour Party, which stands for the abolition of the Upper House. The United Australia Party and the Country Party appealed jointly to the electors to endorse the Coalition Ministry to which they were parties, and the verdict of the electors was favourable. But Mr. Dunstan, the Country Party leader, who had served under Sir Stanley Argvle, the U.A.P. leader, decided to break the coalition only a few weeks after the election in March, 1935. Present State of Parties

Mr. Dunstau and other Country Party Ministers resigned, and lat'.-r the Country Party and the Labour Party united to defeat the U.A.P. Ministry. Since then Mr. Dunstan has been Premier in a Country Party Ministry which has been maintained in office only by Labour support. This is clear from the following analysis of parties in the Assembly:— United Australia Party, 24; Coujitry Party, 20; Labour, 18; Independent Labour, 1; Independent, 2; total, 65. This situation is very similar to the one which obtained in New Zealand when the United Party took office in 1928 and /was maintained there by Labour. Mr. Dunstan's precipitate action in seeking a dissolution caused consterration in Canberra, because the Federal Ministry—which is a coalition of U.A.P. and Country Parties —had fixed October 23 as the date for the Federal election. As the Victorian and Federal Country Parties are in conflict, mainly on the issue oil participating in coalition Ministries, Mr. Dunstan's action may be regarded as being actuated by a desire to dc;al a blow at the LyonsPage Ministry. Mr;, Dunstan's Case

Surprise lias been expressed that the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Frederick Mann, who is acting in the prolonged absence from'the State of the Governor. Lord Huntingfield, should have agreed to the request for a dissolution. In a speech at a dinner in his own electorate a few days aftor the dissolution had been announced Mr. DimEtan certainly contrived to make a case for his spectacular decision. "The Government has accepted the challenge of the Legislative Council," he said. "It has been said that the political opponents of the Government are puzzled and exasperated, and that the dissolution was unexpected. How that construction has been placed on things it is difficult for me to say. "Tactics or strategy do not come into the picture at all," continued Mr. Dunstan. "The 'duty of the Government was to ask for the dissolution. To have done otherwise would simply have meant that the Government was prepared to sacrifice principles for political expediency. The Government decided to place itself in the hands of ' the highest tribunal —the people."

Mutual Support Question The Country and Labour parties are arranging to exchange preferences, an indication that the Labour Party does not feel that it has any prospect of obtaining a clear majority. On the other hand, the United Australia Party is experiencing difficult days in \ ictoria. Last Year a Country-Liberal section of the party was formed, and, although that movement did not amount to a "cave " it has weakened the effectiveness of the Opposition. There is a general feeling that a younger and more liberal leader than Sir Stanley Argylo should bo found. Unfortunately his deputy, Mr. W. S. Kent Hughes, a much younger man ami a former Rhodes Scho ar, does not appear to be, likely to make a general appeal, mainly because of a penchant for narrow party comment on almost eV S?rateg e i?al°ly; then, Mr. Dunstan is in a fairlv strong position The record oi his Ministry, particularly. on rural problems, has been good. It is difficult to imagine any one of the three parties gaining an independent absolute malority—S3 seats—at the election. But one important question is being asked: If the Labour Party becomes the largest single party, will Dunstan give the support of his party to a Ministry bv Mr. T. Tunnocliffe? Jn view of past favours, he will find it difficult to decline.