WILL LABOUR RULE?

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 26 June 1924, Page 7

WILL LABOUR RULE?

Question for Victorian Electors. TO-MORROW'S CONFUSED TEST. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. (R-eceived 7.15 p.m., June 25.) MELBOURNE, June 25. The result of the State elections to-morrow has everyone guessing. The campaign throughout has been dull, and public interest lacking. Over 130 candidates contest 45 seats, while of the twenty seats, for which members are returned unopposed, twelve are retained by Labour, five by the Nationalists or Liberals as they are now known, and three by the Country Party. There are four parties in the field, viz., Liberals (who stood by the Government; Liberals (who declined to follow the Government) who are being opposed by Labourites and the Country Party. It is considered that Sir Arthur Peacock, who is leading the original Liberal wing, will secure a working majority, and the question is whether the Country Party, who will probably hold the balance of power, and will decide to give Labour a trial at government. A section of the Country Party favour this. Labour, flushed with the success of their cause in other States and Britain, make what is considered the exaggerated claim that they stand to decide a definite majority.

> Some newspapers predict there will be little change in the strength of parties; others ask the ominous question: “Will Labour rule?”