VICTORIAN STATE POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1935, Page 4

VICTORIAN STATE POLITICS.

Just as the electorate in the State of Victoria was congratulating itself that three years of stable government had been assured by the recent elections later developments seem likely to disturb political complacency. If the present position continues the ill-effects of a “three-party” Parliament are likely to be demonstrated. The Labour Opposition, which only succeeded in winning back one of the seats lost in the previous election, when Labour was swept from office on account of financial ineptitude, has offered to support the Country Party, which has decided to withdraw from the allegiance with the United Australia Party that enabled the antiLabour forces to appeal to the electors as a composite organisation. There was little difference in the policies of the two wings of the composite Government except in regard to assistance for rural industries. The tariff being a Federal matter, a State Ministry' cannot give assistance to primary producers by adjustments of tariffs, but it can do so by subsidy or by other methods. It is stated that conflict has arisen in the Victorian Coalition in regard to such assistance, the Premier, Sir Stanley Argyle, considering that a balanced State Budget must be the first objective, and that to bring this about limits the assistance it is suggested should be given to primary producers. The State is scarcely likely to desire the disturbance and expense of another election, and the personal as well as the political equation is said to have entered into the present differences. It would be a pity if Victoria condemned itself for three years to government by a minority, with the trimming of policy to catch votes and the uncertainty in administration such government makes possible.