FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18503, 15 September 1934, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

STAGE SET FOR TO-DAY GOVERNMENT CONFIDENT OPPOSITION’S 11 FI? DEE (Lire. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY, Sept. 14. The stage is all set for the Federal election to-morrow. The. Prime Minister. Mr. .). A. Lyons, his” Ministers, and a. majority of the influential newspapers predict a substantial victory for the non-l/tbor forces. Whether the (Government will obtain a clear majority over all other parties as at the last, election is a matter of conjecture, hut the fact- remains that the Government expects to retain more titan 96 per cent, of its seats, and also to capture a couple from the Country Party in electorates where there is a strained feeling anent the tariff. The outstanding issue of the election is the socialisation of credit, advocated by the combined Federal and State Labor forces. Whatever slight difference of opinion exists between the United Australia Party and the United Country Party relates to the tariff. Labor expects to win back a few seats which it lost 'at last election, two in New South Wales, two in Victoria, and one in Western Australia. On the other hand they may lose a couple in New South Wales, and one in Queensland, due to the redistribution of boundaries. Exactly what part will he played by the Douglas Credit candidates in to-mor-row's poll remains to be seen, but the consensus of opinion is that they will prejudice Labor’s chances where the margin is likely to be narrow. The position in the last Parliament was as follows: — United Australia Parly ... 38 United Country Party ... 16 Federal Labor Party ••• 14 Beasley or Lang Labor Group 6 Independents 2 The new House of Beprcsentatives, owing to the elimination of the Angas seat in South Australia, will comprise only 74 members. In order to obtain a majority over other parties, the combined Labor factions require to double their present strength of 19.

PARTIES’ PROGRAMMES

FEDERAL RELIEF SCHEMES THE MAIN ISSUES MELBOURNE, Sept. 8. The Federal election campaign for the elections on 'September 15 is in progress. The improvement in industry and business seems to have given the people satisfaction enough to minimise political excitement. Mr. Joseph Lyons, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, has put forward a programme embodying :m extension of the Premiers’ plan, which is credited with great influence in conquering the depression. Hitherto Federal action has been hampered by a constitution that reserves vital powers for the States. Mr Lyons therefore purposes to invite the Stale Governments to co-operate with the federal Government for the enforcement, of elaborate unemployment and rural debt relief schemes which will concentrate power and finance on essentials and prevent federal and Slate overlapping. 'The suggestions are that further temporary relief be provided for the decreasing number of unemployed by public works like the unification of railway gauges on the inter-state trunk lines, housing, etc. For the i 933-34 wheat harvest the Commonwealth Government proposes to grant a subsidy of £4,000,00(1. If the wheat price rises to 3s fid a bushel or more the subsidy will riot lie paid, and it will lib increased proportionately if the price falls below the accepted basic price of 3s. This suitsidy was recommended' by a Royal Commission, which is preparing further reports to guide the Federal and State Governments in proposing a permanent rural policy. It is suggested that finance may be provided by a local loan of £10,000,000 or £12,000,000. There is strong support for a proposal to fix a price for wheat consumed within Australia. THE COUNTY PARTY The election policy of the United Federal Country Party (the U.C.P.) agrees with that of the Government (the United Australia Party) or U.A.P., except upon the tariff. The Lyons Government (U.A.P.) declares strongly for customs protection. In view of the import quotas fixed/by Great Britain and barriers erected by other countries it 'proposes to seek agreements with countries which now have the advantage in the Australian trade of favorable balances of exports over imports. The Country Party, which cannot expect to return more than 16 members in a House of Representatives of 75, proposes to reduce certain duties in order to encourage the further buying abroad of Australia’s primary products. LABOR PARTY’S PLANS The main issue of the election is. Labor’s declaration to nationalise banking ipnqw"titory to further ad- j vanecs to Socialisation. The Labor Party is divided into two sections — the moderates, who follow Mr Scull in,