BRUCE’S DEFEAT WAS EXPECTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18888, 14 October 1929, Page 11

BRUCE’S DEFEAT WAS EXPECTED.

MELBOURNE MAN SAYS RESULT OF ELECTION DID NOT SURPRISE HIM. "The defeat of the Bruce-Page Government would come as no surprise to those acquainted with the trend of politics in Australia, although it was hardly expected that the victory of the Labour Party would be quite so complete,” said a Melbourne man this morning, in commenting on the result of the Federal election. Mr Bruce’s colossal egotism, said the speaker, had brought about his defeat. He had refused absolutely to accept the advice of his friends who saw the dangers ahead, and had just plunged into a totally unnecessary election in the belief that he was the only man in the whole of Austxalia who could lead the country out of its economic difficulties. He became so puffed up ™ith pride in his own ability that he was unable to see the writing on the wall, and he ignored the fact that he had received no mandate from *he electors to destroy the Federal Arbitration Court. Opportunity Thrown Away. " No man has had greater opportunities than Mr Bruce,” the speaker continued. " Like Mr Coates in New Zealand, Mr Bruce scored heavily at the expense of the opposition in 1925, but, unlike Mr Coates, he survived the test last year, and was left with a substantial working majority, which in other hands would have ensured stable government for at least three years. He had an o% .jrwhelmxng majority in the Senate, . .d in the House he was assured of loyal support so long as he vrpLS content to adhere to the policy he had put before the electors last year. “ But in a spirit of pique, because of the timber workers’ strike, he suddenly made up his mind to destroy the Federal Arbitration Court, although practically the whole of the members of the Nationalist Party were definitely pledged to maintain it. That would not have been so disastrous if he had accepted the advice of members of his own party to defer the coming into operation of the Bill until the will of the people had been ascertained, but he declined to do this.

An Unpopular Budget. “ Beaten on a motion moved by Mr Hughes to defer the abolition of the Arbitration Court until the electors had been consulted, Mr Bruce at once applied for a dissolution, quite regardless of the fact that the Treasurer, Dr Earle Page, had just previously introduced what was probably the most unpopular Budget that has ever been submitted to the Federal Parliament. “Mr Hughes, and those on the Nationalist side who ranged themselves with him, did everything in their power to avoid a dissolution, and the Labour Party also did not desire a new election. However, Mr Bruce decided otherwise and then attempted to catch his opponents unprepared by allowing of only a three weeks’ campaign. But he reckoned without public opinion, which, in this case, has been found to be against him. The average Australian does not fall for Mussolini tactics, and he resented the dictatorial methods adopted by Mr Bruce.” Public Resentment Aroused. The speaker said that it was quite obvious from reading the Australian papers that once the campaign was started Mr Bruce was definitely up against it. At nearly all his meetings he was given a rough spin, and powerful newspapers such as the Sydney "Sun” and the Melbourne "Age’ definitely took up a stand against him The action of the Nationalists in setting out to "crucify” Messrs Hughes, Marks, Maxwell, Mann, Stewart and Sir Littleton Groom, simply because thev showed that they were prepared to stand up to the pledges on which they were elected, aroused a considerable amount of resentment, as was indicated by the majorities by which most of these members had been reelected. "Mr Bruce has completely failed to keep in step with public opinion in the Commonwealth, and electorates which have always been regarded as Nationalist strongholds have been either won by Labour or the Labour candidate has got within a few hundred votes of victory. "If the Senate had also been dissolved, the Labour Party, I believe, would have made a clean sweep throughout the Commonwealth. This is not so much an indication that he • eop'e are so overwhe’mingly in favour of Labour as that they are tired of the methods of Mr Bruce, and have an inherent dislike of any man who ?cts himself up as a dictator.”

Effect on State Elections. From the point of view of the Nationalists, said the Melbourne man, the prospects in the States were now far from bright. An election would take place in Victoria at any time now and it looked as though Labour would have no difficulty in securing a majority. Elections would be held in South Australia and Western Australia early next year, and on the Federal election results it seemed that Labour would hold on to the Government benches in the West and would defeat the present Nationalist Government in South Australia. In New South Wales the election was due to be held next October, and in the present state of political opinion it looked as though nothing but a miracle could keep Labour out. The State elections in Tasmania and Queensland, where there were now Nationalist Governments, were still a long way off. __________ ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS COMMENT ON RESULT (Received October 14, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. The " Observer,” commenting on the Australian election, says: “It is generally recognised that all is not well with Australia economically, and that legislation will powerfully affect her prosperity.” The " Sunday Times ” says; " The development of the situation created by the return of Labour will be aWaited with deep anxiety, for it will undoubtedly encourage the surversive elements which have so long been a curse to Australian industrialism. Still, there is no cause for panic. It may well be that in Australia, as in Britain, the Labour Government will give the extremists the cold shoulder.—Australian Press Association.