STATE POLLS IN AUSTRALIA

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 5

STATE POLLS IN AUSTRALIA

GUIDE TO OPINION ON POST-WAR POWERS (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 9. The State elections in Queensland on April 15, in South Australia on April 29 and in New South Wales in May or June are expected to provide a good guide to public opinion on the transfer of post-war powers from the States to the Commonwealth. This proposed transfer of powers will be prominent in all three election campaigns. Indeed, the Wider Powers Bill will be the main issue in South Australia, where Labour is making a determined effort to oust the present Liberal-Country Party Ad- ’ ministration. A South Australian Labour win would imply approval of the Federal Government’s move for 14 additional powers, on which a referendum will be held later in the year, probably in August. It is generally expected that Labour will be returned in both Queensland and New South Wales and in these two States Labour’s winning margins are expected to indicate the public reaction to the wider powers proposals. In November 1942, at the Powers’ Convention, all the State Premiers

agreed to transfer the post-war powers sought by the Commonwealth, but only the New South Wales and Queensland Parliaments passed the _ legislation granting the transfer. Both* South and Western Australia made drastic amendments to the Bill. Victoria passed the Bill, but attached certain conditions. The Tasmanian Assembly passed the Bill, but the Legislative Council rejected it. LABOUR IN QUEENSLAND

Queensland, the first of the three States to go to the polls, has had a Labour Government for 26 of the past 29 years. No pre-election issues-point to a major swing from Labour, but the new People’s Party, led by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Mr James Chandler, may win some seats. The present state of the parties in the Queensland Parliament is: Labour, 38; Country Party, 14; Country-National, 4; Independent, 6. Some political observers expect Labour to gain a small majority-in the South Australian Assembly, but it is doubtful whether any swing to Labour will be great enough to give it control of the Legislative Council. The present party strengths in the Assembly are:— Liberal-Country Party, 21; Labour, 14; Independents, 4. In the Legislative Council Labour holds only four of the 20 seats.

In New South Wales a Labour victory is regarded as certain. Indeed, Labour may increase its already substantial majority. The present strength of the parties in the Assembly is:— Labour, 58; Democrats, 14; Cduritry Party, 10;. Independents, 8.