Parramatta By – Election

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1921, Page 4

Parramatta By - Election

A RATTLE l)F PREFERENCES.. SYDNEY, Nov. 30 The contest for the Parramatta seat in the House of Representatives, rendered vacant by ibe appointment of •Sir Joseph Cook as High Commissioner in Loudon, is being keenly watched throughout Australia, for, although the election of the Government Patty’s representative is regarded as certain, tingeneral inclination is to regard tlnstate of the voting on polling day as a definite portent ol the political future. Four candidates have entered the field—a representative each of the Nationalist, Country, ami Labour parties, and an Independent.

Tlu- Nationalist candidate, Mr H. E. Pratteli, who resigned from the Senate to contest the election, is a business man ot proved ability and judgment. One nl ibe pinned s of ibe fruit-pre-serving. industry in this State,,,he lias taken an active interest in advertising Australian products, and nils for three years president of the Chamber of Manufactures. During the war be went to England and organised the munition workers. His torceful speeches in defence of the Government have liei-ii n feature of the campaign, and already bis name is being mentioned as a probable Minister if lie is elected.

The direct opposition. Labour, bus selected as its candidate M.r A\ . 11. Hull-bison, a mom Hot of the Australian Workers’ Union, who has ahead) tasted defeat several times at tlie poll. The lighting plank of bis plnllnim is ■'Lax-lice incomes lip to L'.’itUl a year, with additional exemptions lor each child, ami a gindunted tilx on all higher incomes.” The candidature of the Country Party’s icpresentntive. Mr llarton Addison. who also made a ptevious unsuccessful attempt for Parliamentary honours, is regarded with some bitterness by the Nationalists, who consider the party is exceeding its functions in contesting what is practically a inelrnpolilim scat. The party's platlorm is economy, with a view to restoring and improving the country's national credit, am| for neglect in this direction the Government has come in lor sevencastigal ion at the hands ol the Country Pa i t v candidate.

The Independent c-midi.laic, wbo has pi Ill'll him-ell acaiost the llirc.- nnl- . Inn. - A. li. l*i.l.loi;.;ioii. K.r. lb- mis-. 1 111 ■ n 1 i!r a member el the New South Rales Assemble, having deb-nl-i l l l t lie Pi ''tlili'i ol I In- day , Sir Geoigc Dibbs. alter an exciting contest, lie lias lield many impoitant Government appointment s, and was chairman of the Rosie Wage Commission, whose report on the cost ol living in the various States caused much comment in political and industrial circles, lie was ap|miintei 1 a Justice of the High Court, but resigned belore being sworn in. lie is claiming support from the electors oil account of bis scheme ot a basic wage for man and wile, with inciemeiits for each child ill a family, which lie asserts will cure ntir industrial evils and make revolution impossible mid unnecessary.

As voting will be upon the prelerential system, the outstanding question of the election is whether the man wlm runs second to Senator Pratton on the first count will lie able to bold -him u lien the second preferences come to lie counted. It is not expected that Senator Pratton will have an absolute majoritv on the first count, but il Labour achieves second place it is difficult to see any other result than a win for Senator Pratton.