THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, MAY 13, 1935. AUSTRALIAN STATE ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24569, 13 May 1935, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, MAY 13, 1935. AUSTRALIAN STATE ELECTIONS

Seasoned politicians have frequent cause to realise that the public memory is short and that public gratitude is a fragile and uncertain emotion. It would have been extraordinary, however, if the electors of New South Wales had forgotten in three short years the conditions into which the control of their affairs by the Lang Government had brought them and from which they were rescued by the general election in 1932 and if they had, on Saturday, failed to express by a decisive vote their appreciation of the service rendered to their State by the Stevens Administration during its term of office. It was hardly to be expected that the Government would not lose a few seats in this fresh appeal to the country. The strength of the wave of popular indignation which swept Mr Lang out of power has not been wholly unimpaired. It was so overwhelming at the previous election that some constituencies which in normal circumstances might have been relied upon to return members of the Labour Party renounced their allegiance. In a few of these eases the results were so surprising that it was difficult for the general public in the State to realise that the change in representation had actually been made. The reduction on this occasion in the majority claimed by Mr Stevens may doubtless be attributed to the reversion of constituencies of this character to their Labour representation. But the general verdict of the State is unquestionably as condemnatory of Langism as it was three years ago. When Mr Lang was turned out of office in 1932, his followers in a House of 90 members numbered 55. The general election which followed in that year left him with only 24 supporters, so that the Stevens Government had the somewhat embarrassing majority of 42. In the Parliament which has now been elected, this majority would be reduced to 24—a very substantial majority —even if all the electorates in which the issue is at present doubtful were won by Labour candidates. The Government thus has received from the country a, clear endorsement of its policy. In circumstances such as these,, the people in New South Wales who felt a sense of humiliation in the knowledge of the very low level to which politics in the State had been degraded under Mr Lang’s domination of them will breathe freely. The occupation of office by a stable and honest Government, which has reduced the State deficits, materially lightened taxation, diminished unemployment, and restored confidence, should stimulate the expansion of business and the growth of prosperity in New South Wales. The only disquieting feature of Saturday’s polling is the revelation provided by it of the virtual annihilation of the Federal Labour Party in that State. The party controlled by Mr Lang, in which he apparently claims a proprietary interest, since, ignoring the services performed by leaders of political Labour in the past in the State, he arrogantly speaks of it as “ my Labour Party,” must have gathered within its fold most of the electors who have definite Labour sympathies. On the other hand, as long as Mr Lang remains the leader of the State Labour Party —a position which might be insecure for him if the Easter Conference had not conferred on him the status of a dictator —the prospects of its success must remain dubious. The experience of Langism in office must have disgusted many thousands of electors who would otherwise be found in the Labour camp.

The general election in Queensland was also held on Saturday, with a result that was highly favourable to the Labour Government which is in office under Mr Forgan Smith. The Government was fortunate in the respect that it came into power under conditions which the opposing party, by reason of a firm administration during the Premiership of Mr Moore, had made comparatively easy for it. It benefited also from the kudos that was derivable from the expenditure of considerable sums of money that were placed at its disposal by the Loan Council for relief of unemployment. Moreover, its record of achievement has been creditable to it. It is not representative of a class of Labour that would regard Mr Lang as a fit exponent of its views. “ Within the limits of the public faiths for which it stands,” it has been said of it, “it has been orthodox and clean as public life is regarded to-day.” In the circumstances it was able to look forward to the general election with a good deal of confidence, which will have been greatly increased by the evidence that seemed to be afforded by the Country and Progressive National Party of a lack of expectation of success. Six ministerialists were accorded a walk-over for their seats, and the Opposition was without a candidate in nine of the fifty-four constituencies in which there were contests. It cannot therefore be regarded as remarkable that the Labour Party will be much more strongly represented in the new Parliament than it was in the last one, which contained 33 Ministerialists, 28 Oppositionists, and 1 Independent member. Upon present indications Mr Forgan Smith will have behind him a compact following that will provide him with a majority that may amount to thi’ce to one of the opposing party.