The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1931. SWEEPING CONDEMNATION

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 4

The Daily News MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1931. SWEEPING CONDEMNATION

Once more democracy lias vindicated itself. The appeal to the people of Australia has given short shrift to the political webspinning of a Socialistic Ministry. Though the figures are not yet finalised it looks as though the result of Saturday’s polling will be almost exactly the reverse of that of the last election in October, 1920, with the balance of power transferred from Labour to the anti-Socialistio parties. Mr. Scullin took office a little over two years ago with a following of 46 Labour members. Opposed to the Ministry were 14 Nationalists, 10 Country Party and 5 Independents. The Government had therefore a majority of 17 over all other sections of the House of Representatives combined. Saturday’s election, so far as the figures stand at present, leaves the two Labour factions holding 24 seats between them, the United Australia Party, which includes the old Nationalist Party and former Labour members who broke away from Mr. Scullin’s economic policy, holds 31 seats, the Country Party 14 and in six electorates the result is still doubtful. Assuming all these are won by Labour, a most unlikely occurrence, the combined anti-Socialis-tic parties will hold a balance of 15 over the two Labour parties. Mr. S. M. Bruce, the former leader of the Nationalists and Prime Minister, who, like Mr.. Scullin, made a special appeal to the electorate, lost his seat at the last election by a small majority. The defeat of 1929 . has been handsomely avenged by his election for his old constituency with a majority of 25,000, although absence from Australia gave him no opportunity Of taking, a personal share in the* campaign. On the other hand, Mr. E.. G.. Theodore, the Treasurer in Mr. Scullin’s Cabinet, has been defeated with no fewer than four of his colleagues. The defeat of the Treasurer who was responsible for the economic policy of the Labour Ministry is the most direct evidence of the Government’s failure to convince the electorate that its proposed interference with the financial system of the Commonwealth was sound. There can be no mistaking the verdict of the electors nor their intention to maintain the integrity of the Commonwealth at all costs. For that, stripped of all non-essentials, was the difference between the policies upon which the- Commonwealth was asked to. ex{fress an opinion. In election terms it has “plumped” for sane administration, a policy of economy, of sacrifice by all grades of society, until Australia’s finances are once more in a healthy condition, and a cessation of all wildcat schemes for the creation of socalled money and credit out of nothing but political promises. The anti-Socialists have been wise enough to make no promises other than that to deal with each emergency as it comes and that theywill maintain the present financial system as being one that has been tested and not found wanting in the time of trial. The one disconcerting element in the election returns is that in New South Wales the ultra-Socialists have scored at the expense of the more sober Labour candidates. The group led by Mr. E. Beasley, who is known as the foremost supporter *of the application to the Whole Commonwealth of the dangerous economic theories enunciated by the State Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, won 10 seats in the mother State against three held by followers of Mr. Scullin and 15 by the antiLabour parties. The Lang plan has cost the State so dearly that it is somewhat surprising that its supporters should have won 10 Federal seats in New South Wales. They have been secured in electorates where city voters predominate, and many of them are in what used to be called “workingclass areas” in and around Sydney and in the industrial district further north, of which Newcastle is the chief centre. For many years these electorates have been npted for their leanings towards Socialism, and “in recent times they have been the happy hunting ground of the Communist and other extremists. Whatever the reason, the Federal election results are a warning to the antiSocialists in State politics that they must be up and doing if they wish -to root out of the State the noxious policies of which Mr. Lang is the chief exponent. In Victoria the Socialists have lost heavily and now hold but four seats to their opponents’ eleven, though one other seat is still in doubt. In South Australia anti Socialists are four to two, and in Tasmania the United Australia

Party has captured all five seats. In Queensland the Labour and anti-Labour parties are about even, with possibly a majority of one to Labour. Returns from Western Australia are still too indefinite to give clear indication, but the two that are complete show wins against Labour. It will be seen therefore that the condemnation of Labour has been general throughout the Commonwealth and the new Ministry that will be formed cannot be said to have obtained office through any sectional swing of votes. That should strengthen it considerably, and it will need all the vigour at its command. Australia is by no means out of the wood. The success of the “Lang planners” in New South Wales has that many refuse even yet to acknowledge the seriousness of the Commonwealth’s position and that it can only be improved by strenuous efforts on the part of all the rest. The return of a Government pledged to maintain. honest finance and to eschew- economic experiments is sure to benefit Australia’s reputation in oversea financial circles and should facilitate the huge loan renewals the Commonwealth must face in. the near future. The new Ministry is not to be envied. It has a hard task ahead,-and the methods for which it stands will not make for political popularity. The public has asked for straightforward finance and strict economy in administrative. affairs. If these are provided the people may be trusted to do their part.