ELECTION'S HUMOROUS SIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 26 September 1946, Page 6

ELECTION'S HUMOROUS SIDE

(Special Australian Correspohdent.)

TITBITS FROM AUSTRALIAN GAMPAIGN

Received Wednesday, 8.20 p.m. :• . SYDNEY, Sept. 25. [ Despitc nuuierous predictions' that ' the Federal , clection campaign, now ' nearing its close, would be a war of I bitter clashes and mudslinging, it has •' Lurned out to be oue of the most' iln- | inspiring in recent Australiail history. . Fven the usual eleetion humou'r hua been hard to iind, interjeetions' bci'ng : t'or the most part simple ploddors given to a repetition of' one well learued plirase. Among a fevv elect'orates where political stalwarts are .-not afraid to indulge in a sense of humour, the prize for originality goes to Martin, New Bouth Wales, where Mr.-F. • M. Daly, Labour sitting member since . 1943, faces a Liberal candidate, Mr. F. M. Jacobs. Liberal supporters wooed women voters with the catching slogan "Be a cliauge Daly girl, " to which Labour quickly replied ' 1 Give us this day our Daly, Fred." Not. so amusing is the wliispering war in the sanxe electorate that oue candidate is a lloman Oatholic and tiie o tlier a Jew. The Labour Member, Mr. Max Falsteiu, is a ready mark for opponents iu the Watson electorate because of discussion in the House of Kepresentatives concerning the issue to him of a ticence to import Swiss watches. When the inattcr was brouglit up Opjiosition Menibers were quick to point out that Mr. Falstein, who served in the Air Force during the war, was a barrister by profession and alleged that he had been given preference to other e.xservicenien who were watchmakcrs and jewcilers by trade. When the Liberal candidate, Mr. dc Moncliaux, entered tlie lists, lie chose as his inotto "Wateh and Cliange, " the signilicance of which was not lost upon the Labourites. Mr. Falstein is taking a certain amount of chafl; even from members of his own party. When the Minister of Exterual Aiiairs, Dr. Evatt, was speaking last night at a publie meeting, he said: "The Prime Minister and Treas-i . nrer has kept watch and ward over tke linancial situation of this countrv." The Minister of transport, Mr. Ward, who was in the front row, leaned over to tlie Member for Watson und comniented audibly: "Ile means us, Maxie — Wateh and Ward." A sticker campaign is being waged in the Wentworth electorate where Mrs. Jessie Btreet (Labour) is opposing tlie sitting member, Mr. Harrison (Liberal). Labour supporters pasted the notices "Jessie Btreet" 011 every street eorner. To Ihese the Opiiosition had replied with posters showiug a haud pointing left and the words "To Moscow via Jessie Btreet." These are all Bydney metropolitan seats. One of the few sparks coming /i'rom the country is that provided by Mr. J. .J. G. McGirr, Country Party candidate for Darling, who is distributing handbills lieaded provocativeJy "Listen Darling." The Liberal stalwart, Mr. T. "White,. met unexpected trouble wlien he in? yaded Bourl^e audt ofl'ered to subs.cribe lowarils provid'ihg ' siiigle t'ickets ' to Kussia for anyoue wishing to go. When he returned to Melbourne a letter was waiting for him. 'The writer was a woinan wlio requested the full fare. Mr. White recovered by asking for her passport and stating he would double 1 his subscription if she knew of any Comiuunist secretaries of trade uuions who would like to go along.