N.S.W. ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1920, Page 2

N.S.W. ELECTIONS

A WELTER OF PARTIES. SYDNEY, March 1

The nominations for the New South Wales Parliament, which closed on Satturday for the elections on the 20th show an absolute welter ol parties. This is how their measure out:— Nationalists Labour Progressives . Soldiers and Citizens 28 Democrats 1 Socialists

Independent and unclassified ... 63 There are 80 members to be elected, and the candidates number 314. The above list does not give the full list of parties: The Progresives include the Farmers and Settlers’ candidates and the Nationalists who broke away because they do not like the Holman regime, these two parties having decided to make common cause. The Soldiers and Citizens really include two distinct parties—the Soldiers and Citizens Party, and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ National- Federation. 'Hie Democrats are really an offshoot oi the Labour Party, being candidates of pronounced Labour sympathies, who are running under the Catholic Federation. The Democrats who arc elected will put the interests of Roman Catholicism before anv other.

This welter of parties may be expected to give headaches to the intelligent elector, who tries to vote consciously. There are now 24 electorates —the State having been reorganised electornlly for the purpose of bringing proportional representation into operaton—and some elect three and some five members. H er e is the choice, for instance, before Eastern Suburbs, a. Sydney electorate, which has to elect five : —3 Nationalists. 5 Labour, 2 Progressives, 1 Sailors and Citizens’ Party ,1 Democrat, 2 Independent, 1 unclassified.