The Dominion FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1913. THE FEDERAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 30 May 1913, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1913.

THE FEDERAL ELECTION.

The Federal election, which takes place to-morrow, will be one of the most important events, in t-ho political history of Australia, and the results of the polling will be awaited with keen interest in New Zealand. It is generally felt that a critical stage in Commonwealth politics has been reached, and the momentous character of the issues involved has been responsible for the strenuous nature of the campaign which is now drawing to a close. The electors will have three separate duties to perform: —(1) The election of members of the Senate; (2) the election of members of the House of Representatives; and (3) the referendum vote. As far as the Parliamentary elections are concerned, the supporters of both sides profess to be confident of succcss. The Labour party, which is at present in power, is thoroughly organised and consolidated, and in addition to this it has the full advantage of the many influences which a Government in office can bring to bear upon an election. The Opposition is not able to present such a solid and united front as the Labour party. It is rather weak in leadership, and contains divergent opinions and influences, which have been forced into combination by the necessity of fighting a common foe. However, 'notwithstanding this source of weakness, the attack on Labour administration and policy has been decidedly effective from many points of view, and the Liberal* can point to many indica-

tions that the tido has been turniug in their favour sincc the last general election.

With reference to the referendum proposals,«the general opinion seems to be that the Government will receive a decided rebuff. The proposed changes would result in sucli drastic restrictions on the powers and activities of the State Parliaments, and would probably cause such serious interference with internal trade and coramorce, that it is anticipated that many people who will vote for Labour candidates will vote against the suggested alterations in the Constitution. Two years ago very similar proposals were rejected by a large majority, and nothing has sincc happened to justify the belief that there has been any substantial change in public opinion on the matters involved. The principal alteration which the people are asked to approve is contained in Paragraph 1 of Section 51 of the Constitution, which reads: "The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: (i) Trade and commerce with other countries and among the States." The proposed amendment reads: "(i) Trade and oommcrce, but not including trade and commerce upon railways the property of a State, except so far as it is trade and commerce with other countries or among the States." At the previous referendum it was proposed to omit the words "with other countries and among the States" from after the words "trade and commerce" in Paragraph i. thus enabling the Federal Parliament and_ Government to control all industries in the .Commonwealth, whether inter-State or engaged in foreign trade or not. On this occasion it is proposed to exempt State railways from the sweeping power sought by tho change, except in regard to trade on the railways which is "with other countries or among the States." The other proposals have reference to the control of trusts and monopolies and industrial matters. In a manifesto on behalf of the Liberal members of the Victorian State Parliament, the Acting-Premier (Mb. Murray) declares that the real objective of' those who desire to amend the Constitution is Socialism. ■ "The regulation of prices, nationalisation of monopolies, and other expedients arc," says the manifesto, "but to this end." Limits of space prevent us from referring at any length to the policies of the two parties, but, to put the matter very briefly, it may be said that the Labour party promises to pay special attention to the industrial unrest, the operations of trusts and combines, and tho increased cost of living. The Opposition, on the other hand, while opposing the destructive and Socialistic proposals of the Government, submit an alternative programme of progressive measures, including systematic immigration and land settlement, reorganisation and strengthening of the Arbitration Court, a Federal agricultural bureau, control of trusts and combines, and removal of undue restriction on the liberty of the press and political associations.

In a rcccnt article advocating the adoption of tho preferential vote, the Melbourne Ape gave some interesting figures, showing that at the election of 1910 the voting for the House of Representatives went as follows:

Votes Cast. Seats Won. Labour votes ... CBG,RJ2 *12 Non-Labour votes 089,101 33 "Although Labour polled 2262 fewer votes than its opponents, it gained with its minority of votes a majority of nine seats. In the Senate we have much the same story to tell. For all Australia Labour secured a slight total majority, but it gained 18 seats, and its opponents did not get a single scat. Thus one-half the population was disfranchised." The Senate figures for the two great States (New South Wales and Vic-, toria) were as follow: 1910. Labour Non-Labour Votes. Votes. Neiv South Wales ... 735,566 730,201 Victoria G18,859 692,474 1,381,455 1,422,675 Keats won by Labour candidates ...... 12 .Scats won by non-Labour candidates Nil This shows, comments the Aye, that "in the two greatest States, which comprise the vast bulk of the Australian people, Labour actually scored 38,220 votes- fewer than its opponents. Yet it got all the seats, and its opponents went bankrupt. . . . Labour was fairly entitled to five Eeats out of the twelve, and its opponents were entitled to seven; but one party got all the representation, and the other got nothing." These anomalies were the result of the splitting of votes caused by the excessive number of Liberal candidates, and unfortunately a somewhat similar state of things exists on the present occasion, though perhaps not to tho same extent. The stricter discipline of the Labour party prevents a like waste of voting power on their side. In ten of the constituen : cies there arc three candidates for the House of Representatives, and in each case Labour has only one candidate, the third candidate being either a Liberal or an Independent; and there will also be a considerable splitting of non-Labour votes in the Senate elections. Whether tho change of political feeling in the country is sufficiently strong to enable the Liberals to triumph in spite of this handicap remains to be seen. Tho campaign has been a vigorous one, and a record poll is expected. It would be futile bo attempt to predict what the verdict of the people will be; wc must be content to wait till the results of the voting arc announced.