COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1928, Page 3

COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS

CANDIDATE WHO USES STOCK WHIP.

SYDNEY, November 2. Campaigns for the Commonwealth elections, which are to be held on November 17, are in full swing, and. though there is nothing like the oldtime excitement of pre-party days, candidates; are not having everything their own way. The most picturesque candidate for Federal honours is John Joseph McCoo, who describes himself as the Australian Natives’ Association candidate.

He lias adopted most original, but none the less effective, means of keeping his meetings in order. When inter* jectors worry him McCoo produces a long stockwhip and cracks it. He is an adept in the handling of the whip, and keeps his audience in a fever of excitement with his speeches: He is his own committee, organiser, canvasser and chairman, and has already gained a large following in the electorate for which lie is standing in Western Australia. His chief plank is that members of Parliament should lie paid the basic wage until they have accomplished something. In private life he owns a furniture factory, and during his early days was a pioneer of the northwest of West Australia. He is decidedly independent* and closes his meetings with the words: “Well to h with the lot of you.” Another eccentric candidate is a man named McLennan, who has nominated for one of the Syndev electorates. He is a well-known figure through the city '■ecause of his habit of wearing a stove-pipe hat adorned with a hand oi celluloid kewpie dolls, lie is a hawker by trade, and sells his own made-up corn cure. His meetings are rowdy, and he is continually heckled by interjection. His policy is unlimited free trade with every country in the world, lie claims to be the head ol a parti which advocates free public services, such as trains, trams, and ierries. am' states that if returned to Parliament lie will agitate for the abandonment o' the income tax. Other interesting sidelights of the campaign are the three-cornered fight in the Dailey electorate. This electorate was in tho limelight a lew months ago when charges of bribery and seat selling were made against lormcr M..H.K. Mahonv, who resigned his seal in favour of Mr F,. G. I hood ire. I be latter is standing as (lie A.L.P. candidate for Dailey again, while cx-Seiiator "Jupp” Gardiner, who bad been until liis expulsion a few mouths ago. a prom incut member of the A.L.P., also s opposing him as an Independent La* hour candidate. A National party man is also con testing the seat. Labour has failed to nominate for 1? of the 75 seats which are being contested. The Prime Alin ister, Mr Rruce, lias travelled nearly 3000 miles in his election tour, while D Earle Page. Federal Treasurer and Leader of the Country party, is only a few hundred miles behind his colleague. A great deal of Dr Page’s election tour has been by aeroplane, by which moan lie has been enabled to cover big dis tanees and to speak at many towns separated by hundreds of miles and no! usually visited by a politician in one day. Labour Leader Scull in is also busy and is at present eontrib'iUng his efforts at organising the doubtf"l electorates in Queensland, where b'ilure t act has caused a big swing-over against the National party. One Labour M.H.R, elect received a windfall at Tndi, in \ iotoria. 1 be sit ting member, Mr J. H. Cook. who represents the Country party, was considered a certainty to be returned at the poll as he secured a substantial majority at the previous elections. Itwas discovered, however, when nominations closed and were later examined that through an oversight he had failed to nominate and consequently the seat

became automatically a “plum” for the Labour candidate, who was declared elected unopposed. Main points in the National policy are- restriction of Southern European immigration, lifting of clauses of the Navigation Act allowing overseas vessels to carry interstate passengers, and a scheme to provide millions of pounds for the financing of homes for the lower classes and concentration on air defence. Labour promises the electors the abolition of compulsory training, greater protection for Australian industries, and the more efficient working of the arbitration courts. '