Federal Polls To-morrow

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 25, 22 October 1937, Page 5

Federal Polls To-morrow

■Preas Assn.-

PROSPECTS OBSCURE .abour Conscription Bog^y Upsets Forecast "DASTARDLY CANARD"

(By Telegraph-

-Copyright.)

(Received 22, 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, OCt. 22. The Commonwealth olection campaign, which will close to-night, ha* been xelatively dull and devoid Of. th» bitterness which has characterised former campaigns. This, it is thought, is due to the intensive use of broadcasting stations by the party leaders, veher# they. have been sheltered from hecklerf, questioners and the cnstomary noiiy factions. A little heat has been engendered i* the past few days by a wealth of Labour propaganda warning wives a»i motkers that the Lyons Government, i!

returned, was certain to conscript the nation 's youth in the event of Britaia being embroiled in war, "which is imminent. " The Government forces, wha blame Mr J. T. Lang for this "dastardly canard," aTe obviously much concerned about the effects of the bogejj on women voters on polling day, tomorrow. Ten days ago the Prime Minister wa# supremely conildent that the Government would again triumph at the polls, largely owing to its own record aud public antipathy to Labour 's "isol»r tionist defence policy"; to-day, how* ever, tho position is obscure. The feeling on the Stock Exchange i» that the Governmdnt will go back with a reduced majority. The majority ot present is 18. Labour 's campaign directors, oa tho other hand, now declare that they will win at least 13 additional seats, six of which will be in New South Wales, two each in Victoria and Queensland, aud one each in South Austrlia, "Westerg

Australia and Tasmania-. Labour raquires to win 10 seats in order to gain a majority in the House of ReprO* sentatives. The party strength in the last Pa** liament was: — ' United Australia Party 31 United Country Party •••••• 15 ■ Labour .