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Otago Daily Times, Issue 18515, 28 March 1922, Page 4

A LABOUR REVERSE. It is much too early as yet to attempt to assess with exactness the magnitude of the reverse which the Labour Party has suffered in New South Wales. It is reasonably clear, however, that the hopes of the Government retaining power have vanished. On the'eve of the poll Mr Dooley expected a majority of five seats. The results, as interpreted by the Sydney Morning Herald, are expected to give the Coalition five or more of the seats formerly held by Labour. If this assumption proves to be correct the Coalition will have a majority of at least ten in the new Parliament, and the Labour defeat will be of an unusually damaging character for the reason that the elections were held under a system of proportional representation. There cannot, therefore, be any question that Labour has forfeited the confidence of the electors and in view of the fact that it has been in power and has sought to retain power by a most unblushing policy of "spoils to the victors" the result must be accepted by all who stand for clean government as most satisfactory. Every section of the electors with substantial voting power was promised rewards in the event of Labour being successful. This certainly possessed a ludicrous aspect in view of the fact that Labour rule had more or less depleted 15he Treasury. The election proves, if we may take the cabled summary as correct, that the electors have spurned a policy which was based on extravagance and which purposed bribery by iniquitous taxation on one class to support others. In view of the punishment inflicted recently on the Labour Party for its misgovernment of the civic affairs of Sydney the .general election indicates that, in face of great temptation, the heart of the State is sound. The fact that Labour administration has been disastrous to many of the industries and has brought ruin to individuals was probably the deciding factor in the contest. If Labour had proved victorious the State of New South Wales would have provided even a greater object lesson of what to avoid, but the example of incompetency, combined with an indifference to political ethics, has evidently been quite sufficient to persuade the electors that political and industrial emancipation does not lie in the hands of the Labour Party, even though its spokesmen may claim an absolute monopoly of the arts which are necessary to promote human happiness.