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Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1929, Page 4

Tne Federal Election . campaign which ended ill Australia on Saturday was short, sharp and decisive. The election was caused by the defeat of the Bru.e Government on the question of the abolition of the Federal Arbitration Uourt. The issue was brought to a climax on an amendment moved by Mr tV. M. Hughes (Nationalist) to refer the question to a referendum before becoming law. Mr Hughes was joined by five other members of trie Government, and with the help oi the Labour Opposition, the amendment was carried. Mr Bruce, Prime Minister, indicated in advance that the amendment, if carried, would be accepted as a vote of no-confidence in the Ministry. The amendment was carried by the House,' and Mr Bruce tendered his resignation and advised an appeal to the country. Mr Bruce could have accepted the amendment, and taken a referendum on ’the bare issue, but evidently assured of his position, he went the full length of his threat and resigned. When the election came on the tapis, other and more burning issues (than the arbitration question came up. The Nationalists, who had voted against the Government, were outlawed from the party, and became a definite cave against the Government. which in turn put up selected candidates against the late supporters. With a popular figure such as Mr Hughes this was inviting serious opposition, and the Government had it. Another great issue was the increase in the amusement tax, to assist in rehabilitating the Federal finance. This aroused the opposition of the Theatre combines who are reputed to have spent thousands in the effort to defeat the Government, and so repeal the extra taxation. Probably it was thi® feature more than any other which turned the scale against the Government. However, on the whole Labo”r I scored all alomr the Tne practically. * Where serfs wee not won support of a substantial nature was trained, so that in point of vot : n<? tIA Government appears to have been steadily derated all over the Commonwealth. It seems remarkable at this distance that Labour should fight so hard to retain arbitrat on when all over Australia the decisions of the Court if at all adverse, are so readily flouted. Labour, apparently, will use arbitral ion only ns a stepping stone, and where progress cannot bo made then the law is de-

fled ! Despite, too, the record of Labour in Queensland, New South Wales, etc., the people have voted for the return to power of those responsible for much of the financial mess and muddling of the past. If ’t be true the people deserve just what they vote for, then they are in for their desserts in Australia. Politics in Australia will now be more mixed than ever. It is the fashion there rather to swing from one extreme to the other without definite adherrence to one party for long. That has been manifested in the States before and will again, so that it may be set down that the Australian politically, is very fickle.