GENERAL ELECTION IN N.S.W.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17773, 8 October 1927, Page 17

GENERAL ELECTION IN N.S.W.

Last Shots In Campaign.

PARTY PROSPECTS DISCUSSED.

Bj Cable—Praa« Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Oabl. Association. (Received October 7, 8.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 7.

The final rallies of all political parties to-night brought to a conclusion a most strenuous and bitter campaign fight. Turning of the Ways. This election is regarded as more important, and ominous than any previously held in New South Wales—the turning of the ways, as it has been described, after a term in which the Labourites have succeeded in cany mg a number of their sweeping ideals into effect, thereby loading the manufacturing and trading classes with heavily increased burdens, and placing the financial position of the State in a dubious condition. They are bidding hard to retain office, and are making generous promises of further legislation in a similar direction, also promises of further constitutional changes to meet Labour views. Nationalists's Appeal. The Nationalists, on the other hand, make their appeal to the electors, urging that all who love their country, and want a clean, imperial constitutional government, the lessening of principal burdens, restoration of financial stability, and non-class Government to seize the opportunity of putting an end to flic present unsettled and unsatisfactory conditions.

Leaders Confident. The leaders of the opposing parties are equally confident of carrying the day, each predicting he will win 50 of the total 90 seals, and his opponent forty. There are various factors to be taken into account in these calculations. The election is the first held undo the recently-restored single electorate system. Feeling seems to be that this may slightly favour the Nationalists. It is anticipated that a. number of seats, where, under the grouped electorates, there were narrow majorities, may turn over, though the Labourites claim the change in the system will favour them. Labour Split. The Labourites will meet the electorate as a split party. Tl/e Independents are mostly ex-Ministcrs and prominent ex-members of the former Lang Ministry, and the Lang Party ore splitting tbe vote with the selected Labour candidates, and few of tiie old favourites sound on Labour principles appear to have a good chance of holding their own. It is possible, m the event of a narrow victory either way, for the main forces, that this small section may be in a position to hold the balance of power in the new Parliament. Solid Opposition. The Nationalist pact, comprising Nationalist and Country Parties, will face the election in bettor liason than ever. In a few seats there will be vote-splitting owing to Independent Nationalists intervening, but in none of these instances, it is considered sufficient to endanger the scat as a second count, which is provided where over two candidates stand, is regarded as sufficient to ensure safely. Nationalists' Chances. Generally speaking, the view of the electorate appears to be that all things considered, the Nationalists have a reasonable hope of displacing Air La ns. Certainly better than at last election two and a half years ago, but it would be venturesome to prophecy, r.uu a narrow majority either way is practically certain.