NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18419, 27 June 1925, Page 18

NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS.

LABOUR'S MAJORITY. LEADERSHIP OF OPPOSITION. (FBOil OUR OVTN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, June IS. "With the solid phalanx of members behind him, and relying upon the benevolent neutrality of an independent Labour member, and the neutrality of others not of the Labour Party, who may not be desirous of another early election, the Labour Party in New South Wales has a Avorking majority, even if a small one, for the disci)*;ne of the party will tend to make it effective. The Labour Government's future Avill depend largely on the extent to Avliich those behind it, outside of Parliament, push it. It will perhaps prefer to proceed warily, and try to consolidate its position, in the event of another early election, which is not a remote possibility with, the parties so evenly balanced. The present marks only the third complete change of Government, as a result of the vote of the electors, in aboui 12 years. If Sir George Fuller should iiow retire altogether from politics — of this there is reported to be some likelihood, especially as he is a. wealthy man, advancing in years —the fight for leadership of the Opposition will probably be between Mr Bavin and Mr Ley, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, * respectively, in the last Government. The Happier choice, from a popular public standpoint, would be that of Mr Lev, who has many of the attributes of Rood, sound leadership, as Avell as youth and physique on his side. Mr Bavin shares with !ifr Ley the qualities of youth; but lacks Mr Ley's quality of popular appeal. Apart from that, lie has incurred the undying enmity of the Public Service, because of liis attitude towards the question of their access to the Arbitration Court. . Political fame, if it is sometimes easilv obliterated, is easily Avon, too. at times. Take the case of youuo- Mr Tully, upon Avliose election the result of the general elections and the tate of Sir George Fuller's Government were finally determined. Except for his association with the Labour movement, .and even in that respect, little was heard of him, Mr Tully, a few months back, Avas a comparatively unknown man in the community lie was one of an army of Public Servants in the Registrar-General's Ifepartment. Then came his selection as a Labour candidate. Securing three months leave of absence from the RegistrarGeneral's Department, he sold a block of land, as the story goes, financed the purchase of a motor-car with the proceeds, and set out to conquer the country constituency of Goulburn. Of fine piivsique and Avith an attractive personality, and with the faith that is the peculiar asset of youth, he left little of the big electorate untouched, winning promises of A-otes everywhere. More experienced politicians Avould have accepted Avith scepticism all these promises, but young Tully Avas satisfied that a new and brighter future had "been determined for him. But even on polling day, and for days aU«r, little was heard of him outside the electorate, for he was only one of a number of candidates. It was only when the closeness of the party struggle became a fact, and when it was a question of Tully's fate at Goulburn deciding the destinies of the parties, that people began to talk of him. Before long, his name Avas on everyone's lips throughout the State. Then came tlie eventful hour, in the early morning, when every paper in the State was Avaitirig witli feverish anxiety to broadcast to the public and, the parties the fact of his miccess or defeat, after the returning officer had been struggling all night with the Goulburn figures. At about 2 a.m. the future had been determined for t Mr Tully, and. bv the grace of his supporters, for Mr Lang and Sir George. Fuller, and for the State itself, politically.