FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 October 1946, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

(Sppf-ial AiiKtraliaii ( "oiTespondPnt .)

f NO QVERWHELMING VICTORY FOR LABOUR

Reremai u i.i'Sda v, i p.m. SYDXKY, Oct. 1.1. The eoiieliirion oi' Ihe couiil ior the Fcleral Ilouse oi' Represrnt iitives, i'»*veals that Labour 's victory has beeu clearcut. but not ovenvhelining. The (iovernnient sliows a uel. loss oi' six seats but it is probable that M rs. I). A. Blackburn will vole with Ihe Governmeut. The mosl disltubing ieature oi' the election to ollicial Lahour, was the return of Mr. J. T. I.ang uhose presence, thnugh his vole is unimport ant, will always raise. visioas of schism wilhin l.ahour ranks. His elevation to Ihe House on iiheral jrreferences, gives ti i in a nuisance value whicli he is already e\]>loit ing. Opeiiing his war ot ner\es* in his paper ''entury, he elaiuis that his i'ormer (-'illeagues, Messrs. Rosevcar. Ward, Shechaui and Muleahy, have followed Mr. Curlin and -Mr. Chittev and reluctantlv now lind themselves cauglit belween the reactionary policies of M r. t'hiHey and Mr. Menzies. The only Falvation, of course, was to tuni against ollicial Labour. This is only a sainple of what the (lovernment can expect when Mr. Lang hits his political stride again. The (iovernnient suiTered damagiug hlows when the deputy leader, -Mr. For.le, and Minister of Eepatriation, Mr. Frost, fell to exserviceinen eandidates. AI i'. Forde was beaten by a nian who has niany qualifications as the representat ive of a Queensland elector ate. Eighteen inonths ago Colonel C. W. Davidson was lighting the Japanese in Xew (iuinea. Xow, having returned to the electorate in whieh he speht nearly all his lii'e as a jackeroo dairy fanner, and latterlv as a eane grosver, !ie has succeeded in unseating tlie Arniy's political head. He won his commission at the age of 20 in World War 1 and led the -Militia Battalion into Balaniaua in 104:1. earning the O.B.E. and two mentions in dispatches. Mr. Falkinder, who defeated -Mr. Frost, served overseas with the Air Force in whicli he gained distinction. The election of -Mrs. Blackburn is int eresting at the conclusion of a lig'ht for principles within the framework of Labour. Bhe is the widow of iMr. Mauriee Blackburn, mcuuber for Bourke, who not long before lie died in 1941, was expelled from the Labour Party for .-peaking at a meeting' of the Aiistralian Suviet Friendship League. He had pnmiised to attend a meeting at whicli 'onservatives and senior Army oflicers Were also on the plati'orm, and refused lo break his promise. -Mrs. Blackburn earried on the light in her husband s electorate as an Independent Labour candidate and unseated the official Labour lneniber. Xow slie is still following the lead of her husband who, even after expulsion, never voted against the Party. It is unlikely that slie will be asked to rejoin the Party but an applicution from her is certain to be favourablv considered. The Opposition lost sevcral chanees ' by failing to agree on a single candidate. It is considered that Riverina and Wannon electorates went to Labour because of the second preferences of electors wliose lirst vote had been for an Opposit ion nian. The lessons learned in the Federal election may be applied when the Mclvell (lovernment in New Boutli Wales faces tlie electors a few nionths lionce.