Australians Surprised At Strength Of Communists Revealed In Poll

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 December 1949, Page 5

Australians Surprised At Strength Of Communists Revealed In Poll

(From C. R. Mentiplay, Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) I SYDNEY, Dec. 14 (Ree. 7.40 [ pm).—Though it lias been an-1 nonneed that all Communist candidates in the Federal elections will lose their deposits, many Australians are surprised at the extent <>£ Communist strength revealed in the polling figures. [ Examination of the voting position reveals that all Communist candidates for the House of Representatives polled an average of better than 1000 votes. The total Communist vole of i about 38,750 appears insignificant . in comparison with Australia’s theoretical voting strength of 4,910,789, but. it must be remem- [ bered that the Communists of- ■ fered for only 34 of the 123 seats; in the Lower House. In all other electorates Communist sympathisers were instructed to vote for Labour candidates. On a percentage basis it. would ! appear, therefore, that the total number of Communist supporters ’

eligible to vote in Australia would be about 138.000. This is borne out in the Senate vote count, which is as yet incomplete. This afternoon’s figures show that throughout Australia 78,4)29 people nominated Communists as their first preference for a position in the lipper House, though only 20 Communists offered for election, as against 27 Labour and 25 Liberal-Country Party candidates. In the House of Representatives election the main ('nininiliiist strength was shown in New South Wales, where 13 Communist. candidates took the field. Early voting figures show they polled an average of about 1500 votes. Queensland’s eleven Communist aspirants did poorly, averaging about 800, and Victoria's .six were even less fa- [ voured. ' Senate figures, however, which are taken on State-wide voting ■ instead of varying groups of elec-

.locates, show that Victoria leads 'in the number of people who iprefer Communist Senators. This j afternoon’s figures of those who gave first preferences to Comniunists in Hie lipper House are: Victoria 37,075; New South Wales, 26,49(1; Queensland, 7504; West Australia. 4530; South Australia, 2324, and Tasmania, 700. [ The indications are that, the j('omniunists, who arc well estah'iisheel in several important key unions, arc already attempting, 'with some success, Io swing .moderate trade union o]/nion on Io their side, in the pending clash with the Menzies Government. ; The ('omniunists believe that 'no trade union leader will be pre'pared to identify himself with any move to take the control of unions out of the hands of the rank and file. Prominent trade lunion officials have already indicated Ili.it they will not co-oper-ate with Mr. Menzies in his drive against Communists in unions.