ELECTION STRUGGLE IN QUEENSLAND.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16152, 5 March 1918, Page 3

ELECTION STRUGGLE IN QUEENSLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN' COK RF.SI'O-VI)KNT.) SYDNEY, February 19

Queensland, quite suddenly, is in the throes of a bitter election campaignIt was generally known that the general election is about due, but it was expected that the dato would be some time in April. The Labour Cabinet mot the other day, however, and fixed March l(sth. This sent members scampering off to their electorates, and, as there are electorates in Queensland whoso communications might compare with Taumarunui or Bay of Plenty, therere is considerable scampering to bo dono in the next two or throe weeks.

The Ryan Government has held office since the last election. Everyone knows that it is a combination ol : extreme Socialists —its deeds luivo made it famous. It would bo unfair to call it an anti-war administration; it is moro accurate to call it lukewarm in regard to the war. It sneers openly at the Win-the-War Nationalist Government, led by Mr Hughes. Since it took office, the Ryan Government has certainly accomplished a great deal. State cattle-stations, State butcher shops, Stato mines, State factories of various kinds have been established, and private concerns of the same kind havo suffered accordingly. So that, among the business classes, thero is bitter resentment, and the election struggle is quite openly developing into a fight between the supporters of the Socialist State, controlling all trade, and those who believe in the operation of properly-controlled private enterprise. The Labourites appear to bo anxious. They swept the polls at last election — duo first, to a groat stimulation of the Labour idea about that time and, second, to pablic disgust at « course of muddling Labour administration. Sinco then, they have put their Socialist schemes ruthlessly into oporation, and, in the doing, havo made a thousand enemies. Their implacablo resolve, for instance, to tax the private ownership of land out of oxistonce has antagonised great numbers of small farmers. At the last Federal election, when the issvio was Labour versus Na-_ tionalism (otherwise the HughesLiberal combination), Queensland showed a substantial majority for tho Nationalists. At the same time, a vote was taken on tho Labour proposal to abolish the Legislative Council —one or tho Labour Cabinet's main planks— and tho electors, by a large majority, rejected tho plan. Since then Queensland has voted strongly against conscription —and tho Ryan Government is quito enthusiastically anti-conscription. So that tho position is rather difficult to judge. The campaign is going to bo a lively one. however. THo Liberals (now the Nationalists) aro scornful and contemptuous towards the Labourites, and the lattor are displaying A ho characteristic liolshevik hatred .awards all who are not with them.