FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18735, 13 December 1922, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

CAMPAIGN PROCEEDING QUIETLY. STIFF FIGHT AHEAD OF MR HUGHES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, December 12. The election campaign is progressing very quietly, there being no outstanding features. The anti-Hughesites are making all possible capital, and have revived the cry against Mr Hughes’s acceptance of the £25,000 which was presented to, him by his admirers in recognition of his war work. This matter was much commented on at the time, but if was soon apparently forgotten, until the Prime Alinister’s opponents discovered its . value as an election issue. Critics are now attributing a sinister motive to the gift. One cf the causes of complaint is the studied silence of Mr Hughes regarding the names of the donors, and a similar silence by the donors themselves. The general opinion is that Mr Hughes will have a stiff fight ahead with the Liberals and Countrv Parties in the field against him, as well as the Labourites. The capture of some of the Nationalist seats bv the Liberals in the eastern States is expected. The chances of the Countrv Party strengthening its position are also’regarded as good.