VICTORIA'S RIDDLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1924, Page 3

VICTORIA'S RIDDLE.

WHO SHAM- IU’I.K?

SVD.VKV. duly I Wlki .slmll rule in Victoria ! NeitlitT politicians nor people seem to have any ck-itr idea on tlit- point. The forecast that till* result of the general election would leave the House just a* difficult, il not more so. than the olio which came prematurely to oriel has been fullV home 01. The most eoldidont observers will not commit themselves to a definite opinion as to what will happen when the House assembles next 'I uesdav. 'lhe Premier. Sir Alexander I'ciicoek. will find himself at the head of a Nationalist followin'', which, from I,cine the strongest party in the House, has surrendered that position to the LabouV Opposition, the ■'.•speettve strength of the parties being P to and with no understanding whatever with the Countrv Party. In eoii.ninetion with the l.aboiir Party it about the overthrow ol the last 1 ,u meat, and feeline between it and the Nationalist Party during the election campaign has been of the bitteiest Nevertheless Mr Allan, the Cm.nt.y Part v leader, is wholeheartedly m favour of a pad which will enable the two parties to try mice again Jr doubtful expedient ol a eomposite nunistrv. lienee an amusing cartoon m one* of the papers depicting the two leaders flying with all haste across a daiigefous street towards one ol the police safety /.ones, such as are to be seen alongside the tramlines in some the main streets of Sydney. Am;J am., and other cities. Hut how l.n M‘ Allan will find himself fettered tin diehards of his party it is ddheuli • sav Certainly he has m> um nd.it. whatever to enter into any agreement and experience elsewhere In'- I"" 1 how hazardous it i' lor a Conn Partv leader to take upon hmisi It au> responsibility whatever <» *.*"? ,lu 'H lion Mr Ley. the present Mniistei fni .1 i.stiee in New South Wales, thong U that he was safe in entering m " Coalition with tlv Nationalists utter tin K election, hut was left .stranded with a. portfolio and no following and now periodically indulges in the 'itterest .e----eriminations between himself and t o new leader of the Country Party, who bargains his support for the Minis . without any reference whatever to tin original understanding unde. «hit It several of the prominent membei' "1 his partv entered the Cabinet. Snell a position could easily arise Victoria did Mr Allan act hastily. I.aIkmu’s ci.nsitlerahly increased sticligth and Nationalism’s equally decreaseo strength apparently arise.! trom the extraordinary apathy displayed by tin electors, wliieli many people attrihnu to the widespread disgust throughout \ustralia at the perpetual bickerings and crises arising mV m the divisions between the Country and Nationalt wines of the auti-l-ahour forces. m in the nresent election has aetlialh I been only .17 per cent, ot those enrolled and it is well known that 1-aboui |1(1 ils pretty well up to its maximum public, apathy more generally affecting the l.iheiid than the Labour side in politics. . i i l.nlniur in tin* other States hails the result <-f the election as another strtUiug demonstration of the pendulum swing towards its way of thinking, and it substantiation of the evidence pmvided hv its successes in Western and | S<ni»!i Australia, It- pa'V confidently

expects victory in the Fodcial spline. ami in Now "’ales. " ,u ‘ n " R elections come round. Other observer'' see .n it .nereis inevitable result of .the ... situation and compi-onuso legislation, arising out of the ,iiiti-l.i.boi>r clou - agos. Few people believe that tin position in Victoria "ill "V t,,nll> ' ‘‘"t to an immediate Labour (.overnme . though such a development is not impossible. Most people expect some .so. t of an understanding betaee> the ant.Labour forces, but all are agreed th.it a strong and stable Government cannot Ik> expected whatever the outcome may he. -