N.S.W. ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1927, Page 3

N.S.W. ELECTIONS

TO-DAY’S POLLING. (Australian ifc N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, Oct. 7. The final rallies of all the New South Wales political parties to-night brought to a conclusion a most strenous, bitter campaign fight. The election is regarded as being more important, and ominous, than any previously held in New South Wales—- “ the turning of the ways,” as it has • been described, after a term in which the Labourites have succeeded in carrying a number of their sweeping ideals into effect, thereby loading the manufacturing and trading classes with' heavily increased burdens, and placing the financial position of the State in a dubious condition. They are bidding hard to retain office, making generous promises of furtner legislation in a ■ similar direction, and also promises of •, further constitutional changes to meet Labour views. The Nationalists, on the other hand, make their appeal to electors by urging “ all who love their country and want clean, impartial, constitutional government, the lessening of principal burdens, restoration of financial stability, and non-class government, to seize this ns an opportunity of putting an end to the present unsettled unsatisfactory conditions.” The Leaders of the two opposing parties are equally confident of carrying the day, each predicting he will win fifty of the total of ninety seats, and his opponent forty.

CRIMINAL LIBEL PROCEEDINGS. PARTY POSSIBILITIES. (Received this day at 8 n.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 8. One of the most bitter election campaigns in the history of the State culminated sensationally by the AttorneyGeneral filing a criminal information against Sir John Fairfax and Sons, nnd Messrs Hoadswell and I l ’. Neutland, employees of Sir John Fairfax, for alleged criminal libel in respect to reflections against the Industrial Commissioner, Mr Piddington and the Industrial Commission, contained in an article in the Sydney ” Morning Herald,” on the 4th August last, and have issued a writ claiming £IO,OOO damages on behalf of Mr Goswing, Chief Secretary, against the Sydney “ Morning Herald ” for alleged libel contained in statements regarding i vital vote on the abolition of the Legis lative Council. This, apparently, is the last of a long list of legal proceedings arising out of the campaign, during which writs claiming £123,000 for alleged libel have been issued. Public interest is growing as the hour of polling draws nearer, and to supply the demand nearly all the newspapers in the city have arranged to> announce the results as they are received by wireless on loud speakers. The House presently is constituted of forty-six Labour, thirty-four Nationalists, nine Country Party, one Independent. To make good Mr Bavin’s boast that he wifi win 50 seats, lie will only have to gain, in conjunction with the Country Party, five seats. Their is every indication ho will do so.

Mr Lang (Premier) on the other hand, says the Labour Party has improved its position on the last elections, but the concensus of opinion is Mr Bavin will secure a majority, and form the next Government. There are various factors to be taken into account in these calculations. This election is the first one held under the recently-restored single electorate system. The feeling seems to bo that this may slightly favour the Nationalists. It is anticipated that a number of seats where, under the grouped electorates, there were narrow majorities, may turn over, though the Labourites claim the change in the system will favour them.

The •'Labourites will meet the electorate as a split party. '1 lie independent Labourites are mostly ex-Minis-ters and prominent ex-members of the former Lang Ministry and the Lang Party are splitting the Labour vote with selected Labour candidates, and a few of them who are old favourites and are sound on Labour principles, appear to have a good chance of holding their own. It is possible, in the event of a narrow victory either way, for the .main forces, that this small section may be in the position to hold the balance of power in the new Parliament. The Nationalist Pact, comprising the Nationalist and Country Parties, will face election in better liason than ever. In a few seats there will be Opposition voto splitting, owing to independent Nationalists intervening, but in none of these instances is it considered sufficient to endanger the seat, as the second count, which is provided where over two candidates stand, is regarded as sufficient to ensure opposition safety, Generally speaking, the view of the electorates appears to be that, all things considered, the Nationalists have a reasonable hope of displacing Mr Lang, nnd certainly a better one than at the last election two and a-lialf years ago; but it would be venturesome to prophesy, and a narrow majority either way is practically certain.