FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1931, Page 7

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Mayor Blames Party Split for Labour Defeat. (Continued from page 1.) Commenting on the result of the Australian elections this morning, the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) said that in Australia, as in Britain, Labour had to suffer as a result of breaks in its own ranks. “ In Great Britain,” said Mr Sullivan, “ Ramsay MacDonald, Snowden and others hived off from the party and became leaders of the opposition. In Australia, Mr Lyons and others, who had been members of the Scullin Ministry, and a number of other Labour members hived off and joined the opposition, while the Beasley group, who were protagonists of the Lang plan, also broke away to the left, and there were yet other divisions which resulted in the severance of several more members from the party. Under the circumstances it must have been a foregone conclusion that it was impossible for the Labour Government to succeed. Labour can only succeed where its own ranks are closed, and in such a case, where they do not win through to the Treasury benches, they succeed either in holding their own or in improving their position, as they did in New Zealand. “ The essential condition for the success of Labour is unity. I feel very sorry for Mr Scullin, who is a man who has had a very rough road to travel with the financial difficulties of the Commonwealth on the one side, and a division in the Labour ranks on the other. While Mr Scullin is a man who has always done his duty, I feel sure he will be glad of relief from the heavy burdens of office, which have broken his health. “ It will be interesting to see who is Prime Minister—Mr Lyons or Mr Stanley Bruce. Whoever he is, while he will still have many difficulties to face, I feel that he will have his work made easier by the measures taken by Mr Scullin to balance the Budget and to secure a favourable trade balance.” UNQUALIFIED VICTORY. (Received December 21, 1.20 p.m.) BRISBANE, December 21. The Brisbane ** Courier ” comments on the victory of the Australian National and Country Parties: “It is a complete indication of a swing from Scullinism, Langism and Communism, the most dangerous elements in Australia’s make-up. The real recovery of the Commonwealth will begin with the inauguration of the new Government. In every State where Labour is regarded as invincible it has been condemned, except in Queensland. The victory for broadminded and sane Nationalism has been unqualified.”