N.S.W. ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 2

N.S.W. ELECTIONS.

SIR G. PULLER'S LEADERSHIP.

(ntOH OTO OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, April 9,

With the close of the session and the expiration of ilie present State Parliament, the stage is set for the elections, about the middle or towards the end of May. \ Already candidates are shaking hands with people with extraordinary cordiality in remote places undisturbed ordinarily by the' political elements; the party strategists have marshalled thoir forces; candidates who are aspiring to Parliament for the first time, taking heed of the advice that Chamberlain once gave to budding politicians, are taking trouble with their speeches and rehearsing their platform gestures; and before long the hot breath of political battle will be over the land. It will prob.ably be a short, sharp campaign. As far as can be seen there will be np outstanding issue like the Ne Temere. Bill import sectarian squabbling into the campaign. The fight will havo ap its fundamental basis the broad question of good government. The Fullef -Government, although not a spectacular one, has td its credit a record of a solid achievement, which makes it difficult to see it beaten at the polls. It is' the first Gtoverament since the Wade Cabinet in 1910 to reduce taxation, and it promises a further reduction of taxation for the next financial year. ■ It has lowered railway fares and freights, although not to the extent desired liy' most people. Welcome stamp duty reform has been introduced. It has put definitely in hand, after the project had been debated for thirty years or more, the North Shore bridge; the city railway is proceeding, even if slowly, hand in hand with the bridge, with which it will be linked up, and with big cross-country lines; It has brought into being the Main Eoada Board, and iB bringing 'down a big housing • scheme. A reformed Water Board is now functioning; it has facilitated tho building of much-needed bridges in tho metropolis, and the carrying out of a big hydro-elec-tric scheme. If the Government is defeated it will go down only because of the apathy of its supporters on polling day, and because of the more effective organisation of the Labour Party. Sir George Fuller is a safe leader, although there are some in the party who would like to see him supplanted as Premier. Sir George Fuller, whose worldly wealth would have enabled him to sit back in idleness years ago if he had wished to do so, has won the confidence of the great bulk of his paxty and of the majority of the community, by plain homespun qualities, honesty, and a broad outlook, and patriotism where far more brilliant political leaders have failed. He has a personality which, on the platform, leaves an irresistible impression of a strong man. But if he is not quite the strong man that people sometimes picture him, he is a safe man. Sir George Fuller does not, for instance, invest the atmosphere with a suggestion of melodrama, as does the Labour leader (Mr Lang). There is nothing of the sledge-hammer politician about him.. He has not the temperament of the artist. Where Mr Holman, with his brilliant intellect and magnetism, always suggested, figuratively, the champagne of politics, Sir George Fuller suggests the more lasting qualities of plain Beer. Nor is Sir Geprge—and again one inevitably comparies him with Mr Holman—a master of Apolitical strategy or a great leader. He is' just the plain, stable type that the bulk of the community who are opposed to Labour look to, to carry the eountry along smoothly. With a good, solid team of Ministers behind him, Sir George is carrying his banner into the wilderness with a very good prospect of success. . .