MINISTER’S ANGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27272, 24 December 1949, Page 7

MINISTER’S ANGER

DEFEAT IN FEDERAL ELECTION SURPRISING ALLEGATIONS MELBOURNE. Dec. 23. Mr Hubert Opperman, former champion cyclist, who, as the Liberal candidate, narrowly defeated the former Minister of Defence, Mr J. J. Dedman, in the electorate of Corio, expressed surprise at the lack of restraint shown by Mr Dedman in an outburst against the result of the poll. Mr Dedman said a gang of' scaremongers had gone from door to door frightening people into voting Liberal, and his scrutineers were prepared to swear that 80 per cent, of the Communist votes favoured Mr Opperman. “ I would not have been proud to retain the seat on their vote,” concluded Mr Dedman. “I shall return in 1952 to remove the yoke of oppression which the electors have thrust upon themselves in this election.”

Mr Opperman commented: “In the sporting arena gracious acceptance of defeat is regarded as an essential virtue. Mr Dedman’s attempt to link my success with Communist co-opera-tion savoured of the humorous. “ One reason for my entry into politics was my deep, heartfelt dread of the trend of Socialism and its close association with Communism.

“All the scrutineers signed a declaration that they would not disclose any knowledge acquired touching the vote of any elector.” The Minister of External Affairs, Mr P. C. Spender, claimed that the Labour Party was already organising a whispering campaign to spread the falsehood that the Liberal and Country Parties were already in disagreement. He added that the Labour Party had given many reasons except the real one for its defeat, which was the “objection of Australians to Socialisation and the destruction of human dignity it involved.” Two Victorian Liberal-Country candidates in the Federal election have been granted permission for a recount of votes. The electorates are Fawkner and Bendigo, in which the Labour candidates, W. M. Bourke and P. J. Clarye, won by 43 and 172 respectively. The distribution of preferences, for the Perth seat gave the verdict to T. Burke (Labour) by 81 votes.