ELECTION TO-DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1934, Page 7

ELECTION TO-DAY

PROSPECTS IN AUSTRALIA CONFIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES SOCIALISATION OF CREDIT DOUGLAS CREDIT'S APPEAL By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 11.25 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 14. The stage is set for the Federal elections to-morrow. The Prime Minister (Mr. J. S. Lyons), his Ministers and the majority of the influential newspapers predict a substantial victory for the nonLabour forces.

Whether the Government will obtain a clear majority over all other parties as at the last election is a matter of conjecture. The fact remains that the Government expects to retain more than 95 per cent, of its seats and in addition capture two from the Country Party in electorates where there is strained feeling anent the tariff. The outstanding issue at the election is the socialisation of credit advocated by the combined Federal and State Labour forces. Whatever slight difference of opinion exists between the United Australia Party and the United Country Party relates to the tariff. Labour expects to win back a few seats lost at the last election —two in New South Wales, two in Victoria and one in Western Australia. On the other hand it may lose two seats in New South Wales and one in Queensland due to the redistribution of boundaries. Exactly what part will be played by Douglas Credit candidates in to-mor-row’s poll remains to b. seen, but the consensus of opinion is that they will prejudice Labour’s chances where the margin is likely to be narrow. The party position in the last Parliament comprised:— United Australia Party 38 United Country Party 16 Federal Labour Party 14 Beasley or Lang Labour 5 Independents 2 Total 75 The new House of Representatives, owing to the elimination of the Angas seat, South Australia, will comprise only 74 members. In order to obtain a majority over other parties the combined Labour factions require to double their present strength of 19.