Forecasts For Australian Election

Chronicle (Levin), 8 December 1949, Page 5

Forecasts For Australian Election

(N,Z:PiA.

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* LONDON, Dec, 6. Aceording to Mr: Wai'd Price; cabljng to the Daily Mail frbiii Brisbane, AuV tralian. bookmak'Crs arte laying odds of six to four against the return of the Ghifley Labour Gbverhhient on Saturday. The Melbourne^coi'respohdent of the Manchester Guardiah says the dei'eat of "tlie , Labour Goverhmeht in New Zealand Hhs sfetii the odd's cliange from evens and five to four in favour of Mr. Ghifley to siniilay odds in favour «jf Mf. . Menzies. This ^ri-espohdent considers that the electioh will pi-bbably be decided by a ujavering 5 per ceht. The issues most liltely. tb jriHuence this uhdecided .sectibh are bahking control and petrol ratipning. Waverefs who flirted with socialishi when it assured them of bigger ahd bettei- social services are now alarmed by the notion of a ' ' bank grab. ' ' City dWeliflfS are impiessed by the Oppositi'on prbmise to give them more petrbl fdi- thfe summer liblidays. There is also probably a swing against Labour by housewives who are ilhpressed by the fli'giimeht that Australian real wag'es have increased less in the last decade than American or British;. ' ' All this niay strike a note of bathos at a time when the antipodes is flattered to lind' itself regarded as a w^athfer-vane in the political winds now blowing roqnd the world," concludes the correspbndent. "The aver^ge voter will prefer tb' go to the poli^bn Saturday believing he is " figliting a grand ideological crusade of Socialishi versus private enterprise, or vice versii. ' '