NEW SOUTH WALES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 11

NEW SOUTH WALES.

EJECTIONS PENDENT COMMUNIST O/WSBIDATES-ANTT-JjABOUE may be divided. CFeom Our Own CottEKJPtJsbEKT.) SYDNEY, December 29. Tbo main topic of interest politically in New South Wales for tho opening- of the Now Year is tbo pending general election. Ordinarily tbo Parliament would Jaavo ended with the December proroguation, but the Government ia ccanmittod to hold a ‘brief session ia the now year for the express purpose of passing the Bill which really aims at the No Tomero Decree. This Bill was rejected by the Upper House, and, in preparation for the new measure, it is intended to make additional appointments to the Upper House, which is a nominee chamber, to ensure its safe passage. Soon after the special session in April, or, at latest, in May, the general eloctiiui will ensue. All parties are actively preparing for the light. From present indications it seems that the anti-Labour forces will again present themselves to the electors as a house divided. Tho Nationalists and the Country Party have worked together amicably enough during the latter part of tho present Parliament under the provisions of a pact which assured the passage of certain important legislation in which tho Country Party was especially interested. But the loaders of the Country Parly have in tho last weeks made it clear that with the conclusion of tho oresent Parliament tho pact absolutely ends, and that the party will go to the electors as a distinct and untrammelled entity. Tho tbcofy ia that under tho system of proportional representation there ia room for all. but in practice, as has been shown in Western and South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, tho electora will not tolerate squabbles amongst candidates 'between whom ihey are able to perceive no essential difference. Thus it seems probable that_ the anti-Labour chances will he jeopardised. Against this is tho patent fact that Labour itself 19 by nc? means a united, and happy family "Tho successive inquiries regarding the notorious ballot box scandals and tho expulsions arising out of them have left deep and faction-generating animosities which are smouldering ominously and are ready to burst into flame with the least pulf of political wind. Recognising this, the present leaders are anxious to secure tbo adjournment of tho annual Easier Conforenco until after tho elections. Hostile factions, eager to seize tho reins of power, are working desperately to circumvent (his, confident that a united effort on tho part of tho various malcontent sections will hoist tho present leaders from office at tho conference. Another noteworthy feature of the situation is the decision of tho Communists figure for tho first time as a definite political entity in Uio elections. This has not been reached without wrangling in the Communist convention, which ha® boon sitting for some time, as the Communist prefers direct action to parliamentary action, and tho only purpose in tho repeated efforts to gain alliance with, tbo Babo-ur Party hus been, as has been openly avowed, to white ant that organisation and bring it into bne with Communist ideals. _ However, oven at tho expense of a split in tho ranks of tbo Communist organisation, the decision ha® boon made, and candidates ore to bo selected for certain carefully-chosen scat® which it 'believes will give it a footing in Parliament. _ At_ the _ same time every endeavour is still being made to maintain harmonious relations with the Labour Party, which has been assured of the next preferences in those electorates that are contested and of active support in those which are not contested. Tho bydnoy, Botany. Balmain, and Newcastle electorates (all industrial areas) are to be contested by two candidates each. No member selected can refuse to stand without terminating his career in the party. There has been persistent rumours that Mr W A. Holman, K.C., ex-Promier, will carry the Nationalist flag into the wilderness, and that tho Premier (Sir George Fuller), who is a wealthy man, will retire into tbo quieter shades of tbo Legislative Council, but. the rumours have been dissipated hv Mr Holman's emphatic denial of (bo reports. It is now suggested, however, that he has an eye on one of the I‘oderal seats New South Wales has had few more brilliant figures in politics than Mr Holman, and it will surpriao no one to see him dropping the wig and gown and again making a bid for a donunant place in political life, if not in the State, at all event!) in tho wider Federal domain.