IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST RESULT.
AUSTRALIAN POLL Whirlwind Campaign Will End To-Night. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Although the polling in the Federal elections takes place to-morrow (Saturday) following a whirlwind campaign by the 338 candidates for the House of Representatives, it is quite impossible, according to disinterested political observers, to predict the outcome.
~ Early in the campaign the belief was popular that the Menzies Government, in the emergency circumstances of to-day, with ite "all-in" war policy, would undoubtedly receive a mandate to carry on. Labour's programme, similarly based, appeared to admit of no substantial reason why there should be any changing of horses crossing the stream.
Within the past fortnight, however, a change has come over the scene. Customary side-iseues and fault-finding have intruded to the Government's disadvantage and discomfiture. Strangely, most criticism when directed against the Ministry has come from members of the United Australia party and not alone from Labour opponents. Party Custom Abandoned. In this election, the party machine has departed from custom by endorsing more than one Government candidate for certain constituencies, and according to reports some of these have a definite chance of ousting the retiring Parliamentary colleagues. A case in point is Parramatta electorate, where the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Sir Frederick Stewart, has seven opponents, two of whom are fellow members of the party, who are making political capital out of the .petrol rationing troubles and are pressing him closely.
*The Postmaeter-General, Mr. H. V. 'fliorby (Calare, New South Wales) is getting bitter opposition, and his jrrospects of success are far .from rosy. 7 The crop of Independent candidates has bended to complicate the Government's task' of.' focusing •' public attention on vital' war igeues,- but it is generally conceded ihat the fate of the Government will largely be determined by the voting fc New South Wales. , ~ Labour Exceedingly Optimistic. ~ The Labour party campaign directors are ; exceedingly, optimistic. They claim fliat . the .•. r,eeujts ; of. three recent byglectioris in New South .Wales, particularly that at Rydej /and also at .Corio, hi Victoria, earlier, in the year, reveal 5n untniatakabie swing to, Labour. m They, are hopeful, of winning at least jfjpur seats in New. South Wales, including Barton, by Dr. Evatt, formerly of Sie. High ■ Court Bench, who~has given a great fillip to the Labour campaign, and IJiey; claim they wilt win at least three *eats in other States. They require i-to win altogether only five in order to iibtain a narrow working majority in the Souse of Representatives. ■ SZ Furthermore, Labour expects to get control of the Senate. They possess the initial advantage of holding 14 of the 17 seats not contested at this election, and only need to win Senate seats in two of the six States in-order to achieve their objective. In other circumstances there may be a stalemate.
Mixed Receptions for Mr. Menzies. The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, had a rousing reception at most large centres in the eastern States, but has had to submit to considerable heckling at a few meetings this week in the' southern State. He is in a difficult position, having to keep one eye on his own electorate;; of Kooyong (Victoria), where he has five opponents, four, of whom are Independents of more than average standing. , United Australia party': officials* cannot see the Government being defeated. Rather are theytjpf the opinion that they will strengthen the present majority as a result of Labour feuds and factions in New South Wales. ' The Country party is confident that their numbere in the House of Representatives will not be diminished. Indeed, they expect to win a couple of seats in New South Wales. The state of the parties at the dissolution, was:—House of Representatives: Labour, 33; United Australia party, 26; United) Country -party, 15; Independent, 1. Senate: Government, 20; Labour, Iβ.
The result of the elections is likely to remain in doubt for some time, owing to the plethora of candidates and parties, the checking of soldiers' votes here and abroad, also .the distribution of preferences in doubtful contests. ' ■■••'
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Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 8
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677IMPOSSIBLE TO FORECAST RESULT. Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 224, 20 September 1940, Page 8
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