FEDERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18889, 12 October 1929, Page 7

FEDERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD TO-DAY.

BITTEREST CAMPAIGN ON RECORD ENDS. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, October 11. The election campaign, which has been described as one of the bitterest on record, closed to-night with noise and frenzy. The roar of battle was heard loudest at North Sydney, where Mr W. M. Hughes is having the hardest campaign of his career, and at Wentworth, where Mr W. M. Marks is fighting for dear life. Sir Littleton Groom is expected to have a close call at Darling Downs, Queensland. Mr G. A. Maxwell, however, is regarded as safe for re-election at Fawkner in Victoria. Both the party leaders, Mr S. M. Bruce and Mr J. H. Scullin, expect to get working majorities, while a section of the Press express the opinion that neither side will achieve a decent majority, the position probably culminating in a stalemate. The belief is expressed that if Mr Bruce loses ground at all, it will be in New South Wales and in Tasmania. Polling takes place to-morrow from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.—Australian Press Association. The following retiring members were re-elected unopposed. Country Party—Dr Earle Page (leader), Messrs J. H. Prowse and H. Gregory. Labour Party—Mr J. H. Scullin (leader), Messrs R. James, D. Watkins, J. Mathews, N. J. O. Makin and Dr Maloney., At the election of the Lower House on November 17, 1928. the following parties were returned:—Labour, 31; Nationalist, 29; Country Party, 13; Independent, 2; total. 75. A Government under the Prime Ministership of Mr S. M. Bruce (Nationalist) with Dr Earle Page (Country Party) as treasurer, was formed by a coalition of their parties. The election was caused by the defeat of the Government on the question of the abolition of the Federal Arbitration Court, when Mr W. M. Hughes (Independent) and five members of the Government parties voted against the Bill.

TENSE SCENES IN FEDERAL HOUSE.

The Sydney “Sun” of September 11 thus describes the scene in the Federal House •when tjje Bruce Government was defeated: Mr Walter Marks, the Nationalist member for Wentworth, who for years has been a solid supporter of antiLabour Governments, will go down in Australian political history as the man who stood firm against the strongest party pressure exercised against a member for many years. Only those who witnessed the opening stages in the House of Representatives yesterday can realise the tense atmosphere that was created from the time it became known that Mr Marks would vote against the Government, and, incidentally, from the time it became known that the Government was determined at all costs to save its skin. Mr Hughes, in his speech supporting his amendment, appeared as a man sure of victory. He quickly swept the decks clear for action, and frith all his old-time vigour poured his broadsides into the enemy. Shot after shot was fired .by him, and every shot told. The Prime Minister’s speech was delivered in a devil-may-care manner, strange to him. He talked dissolution. He rammed dissolution down the throats of members. His supporters sat glum. Mr Anstey led the chorus of Labour members, “Put the wind up them, Stanley.” The House resumed after dinner in an atmosphere of suppressed excitement. Immediately after Mr Bayley took the chair, Mr Marks rose to his feet. This time he was called upon. He did not leave the House long in suspense. He had voted for the Bill, he said, because, for one reason, he had always held that the Federal system was costly—it was a farce that hundreds of pounds had to be spent by organisations in establishing an interstate dispute. The Government’s measure would do a lot to throw off the shackles from industry. He would vote for the amendment for several reasons. The first was that there had been no mandate from the people. The second was that the timber millers and the graziers had expressed doubt about the wisdom of the Government’s actions. The third was that the action had been taken without the Government first awaiting the report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution. The fourth, that the Premiers of the States ha dexpressed some doubt that they would be ready to take over arbitration by June 30 next year. The House listened to Mr Marks with grave attention. There was an uncanny silence. Only the voice of the tall member with acousticon to his ear, and his index finger ramming home his points. "T am taking a grave step,” fie said, “and I am taking it with my eyes wide open. Perhaps I would not be in this position, for the first time in ten years, of voting against my Government, but that now the Prime Minister has said that he can take major matters into his own hands, although these things are not within the planks of the Nationalist Party platform. He did not confer with his party on the John Brown prosecution, on the arbitration issue, or the amusement tax increase. “When I heard of the withdrawal of the John Brown prosecution 1 was stunned, as I was when I heard of the amusement tax. I have told the Prime Minister that he must take one road, and I must take the other. “I cannot do anything less than vote for this amendment,” he said. “After all, we are sent here by the vote of the people.” “ Slowly, deliberately, he added, amidst intense excitement; “ The Prime Minister says, ‘Go to the people.’ lam prepared to go to the people.”

Mr Marks then revealed some of the story it was whispered he had to tell about happenings in the last few days. Flourishing a sheaf of telegrams, he said:—“ Ido not agree with Mr Hughes that pressure has been brought to bear upon Nationalist members by the Prime Minister or his Ministers. But it is a weird fact that, although no one knew how I was going to vote on this issue, I have received a number of telegrams from National Federation branches in my electorate to a certain effect. It is strange that they were all lodged at about the same time. ''Who sent these telegrams? Who inspired them? This is pressure from my electorate. T do not say the Prime Minister or his Cabinet Ministers inspired them, but there may be others.” From the Labour benches broke out a united chorus, "Parkhill! ” At 8.40 p.m., the question was put, and members crossed over for the division. Ranged with the Labour Party

were Messrs Hughes, Mann. Maxwell, Stewart, Marks, and M’Williams In a strained silence. Mr Bayley announced the vote—ayes 35, noes 34. Terriffic cheering broke out from the Labour ranks. “The die is cast,” cried Mr Blakeley “This is the end of the Bruce-Pagc regime.” Silence having been restored, Mr Bruce moved that progress be reported The Speaker (Sir Littleton Groom), who had not taken part in the division. entered, and Mr Bruce, having moved that further committee consideration be made an order for the next day of the sitting, announced that in view of the vote, the Government desired the opportunity of considering its position. At 8.50 p.m. the House adjourned.