Whirlwind Campaign

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 770, 17 September 1929, Page 9

Whirlwind Campaign

FEDERAL PARTIES GET BUSY Marr In An Awkward Fix MUST FLY BACK HOME TO BE IN TIME ('United P.A.—Bg Telegraph—Copyright ) Received 9.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. FERE is considerable activity in political circles, preparing for the election of October 12. The electoral authorities, caught unawares, are working overtime. The party organisations all over Australia are getting ready for a whirlwind campaign.

The issues of the election are narrowed down practically to two—whether the Commonwealth Arbitration Court should be abolished, and the propriety of the Treasurer’s recent taxation proposals upon amusements, cinema film, beer and spirits, which the Government regarded as luxuries. Vigorous opposition is being expressed by the directors of the picture organisations, who have embarked upon a publicity crusade against the Government’s proposals through their theatres. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bruce, has uow announced an intention to modify the original taxation proposals with the idea of exempting those theatres where the weekly receipts are not above a certain figure. Mr. Bruce’s proposals are to grant exemptions from the payment of tax in cases where the weekly takings do not exceed £IOO. Parliament will be asked to impose a tax of per cent, upon the payments made to persons outside the Commonwealth by film importers for non-British films. Mr. A. M. Noble, the famous international cricketer, has submitted his name for Nationalist selection for the Wentworth seat, in opposition to Lieutenant-Commander Marks, whose last-minute defection defeated the Bruce Government. HUGHES CALLED BETRAYER Mr. W. M. Hughes, who moved the fateful amendment, and LieutenantCommander Marks, have not yet stated whether they intend nominating with the Nationalists. A Federal National Party manifesto promises increased employment and a lowering in the cost of living. The manifesto bitterly assails Mr. Hughes as a man “who for six years manoeuvred to betray his party.”

Nations Assembly, who through a stroke of bad luck is unable to reach Australia by steamer before the election on October 12, is trying to communicate with Squadron-Leader C. E. Kingsford Smith on the Continent, for the purpose of flying to Australia. Mr. Marr. missed his passage home by the liner Mongolia. This was due to the stupidity of customs officers on the Swiss frontier in causing Mr. Marr’s luggage to be detained. although it had been franked through as official Mr. Marr had hurried from Geneva and arrived in ample time to join the Macedonia at Marseilles. His Idea was to transfer at Aden to the Mongolia, which the owners were delaying for him. Mr. Marr boarded the Macedonia carrying only his pyjamas and shaving kit. Frantic telegraphing revealed the fact that all his baggage was 24 hours behind so, reluctantly, he had to leave the ship just before she sailed at midnight. He hurriedly returned to London and will join the Otranto at the, end of the week. The Otranto is not due at Fremantle until three days after the Federal election poll. He has cabled to his Parliamentary friends asking them to look after his electorate (Parkes), for which he was the Nationalist member in the late Parliament. He says he is confident that his supporters will rally to his aid iu his ill-luck.