The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1927. A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1927. A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

The election campaign in New South Wales is now in full swing, and it is being conducted says an exchange, .with much of the vehemence and bitterness that might be expected under the circumstances. The Labour Party, realising that its political predominance is at stake, Is endeavouring to close its ranks and present a united front to the Nationalist Opposition. But Mr Lang has discredited his party in the eyes of all moderate men by his servile and obsequious attitude towards the “Red” extremists, and at the same time he lias exasperated many of his own followers by tbe tricky, and dishonest tactics that he has employed to maintain himself in power. Considerable interest naturally attaches to the Nationalist programme, which has just teen expounded 'by Mr T. R. Bavin, the Leader of flip Opposition. Born in New Zealand, Mr Bavin has spent most of his litc in Australia, and in Sydney he i.s regarded as an able, courageous, and honest politician. But what is needed in New South Wales to defeat Labour is a sweeping public movement inspired by genuine enthusiasm; and it is doubtful if either Air Bavin or his policy provide the amount of emotional inspiration requisite for the purpose. From the Nationalist point of view there i.s nothing wrong with the new “platform.” The Legislative Council is to be protected from abolition, but it is to be an electoral 'body. There is to be a redistribution of the electorates on lines that would certainly not suit Labour. The hur-

den of taxation is to be readjusted, the basic wage, the arbitration system, the forty-four week, even child endowment, are to be maintained in modified forms, largo estates ore to be divided for settlement, and British Immigration is to be encouraged. But there is an ominions ring about Mr Bavin’s threat of putting Sydney into the hands of a City Commission and investigating thoroughly Labour’s administration of metropolitan affairs in recent years. The question is whether the Labour ties of “solidarity’’ will be strong enough to hold together the party that Mr Lang has for the moment divided bv his folly and treachery. The Nationalists appear to' be confident of success, especially because of the public indignation aroused by Mr Lang’s attacks upon the Upper House. But it is quite probable that the Nationalists and Labourites may prove to be so 1 nearly equal in strength that the balance of power may eventually be left ; in the hands of a few Independents, 1 with results that cannot yet be fore- 1 seen.