HOT CAMPAIGNING

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1940, Page 8

HOT CAMPAIGNING

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS RESULT UNPREDICTABLE

Sydney, Sept. 19. Although polling in the Federal elections takes place to-morrow following a whirlwind campaign by 338 candidates for the House of Representatives, it is quite impossible, according to disinterested political observers, to predict the outcome. Early in the campaign the belief was popular that the Menzies Government in the emergency circumstances of to-day, with the Prime Minister's "all in" war policy, would undoubtedly receive a mandate to carry on. Labour's programme, similarly based, appeared to admit of no substantial reason why there should be any changing of horses crossing the stream, but within the past fortnight a change has come over the scene. The customary side issues and fault finding have intruded to the Government's disadvantage and discomfiture. Strangely, most of the criticism when directed against the Ministry, has come from the United Australia Party members and not alone from Labour opponents. Departure From Custom. In this election the party machine has departed from custom by endorsing more than one Government candidate for certain constituencies, and according to reports some of these have a definite chance of ousting their retiring Parliamentary colleagues. A case in point is the Parramatta electorate, where the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Slr Frederick Stewart, has seven opponents, two of whom are fellow party members who, making political capital out of the petrol rationing troubles, are pressing him closely. The Postmaster-General. Mr. H. V. Thorby, is getting bitter opposition and his prospects of success are far from rosy. The crop of Independent candidates has tended to complicate the Government's task of focussing public attention conceded that the fate of the Government will be largely determined by the voting in New South Wales. Labour Optimistic. The Labour Party campaign directors are exceedingly optimistic. They claim that the results of three recent by-elec-tions in New South Wales, particularly Ryde, also Corio (Victoria) earlier in the year, reveal an unmistakeable swing to Labour. They are hopeful of winning at least four seats in New South Wales, including Barton by Dr. Evatt, formerly of the High Court Bench, who has given a great fillip to the Labour campaign, and claim that they will win at least three seats in other States. They require to win altogether only five in order to obtain a narrow working majority in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, Labour expects to get control of the Senate. They possess the initial advantage of holding 14 of 17 seats not contested at this election and only need to win Senate seats in two of six States in order to achieve their objective. In other circumstances there may be a stalemate. The Prinm Minister had a rousing reception in most of the large centres in eastem States, but he has had to submit to considerable heckling at a few meetings this week in the southern States, He is in a difficult position having to keep one eye on his own electorate, Kooyong, where he has five opponents, four of whom are independents of more than average standing. Result of Labour Feuds? United Australia Party officials cannot see the Government being defeated. Rather, they are of the opinion that it will strengthen its present majority as a result of Labour feuds and factions in New South Wales. The Country Party is confident that their numbers in the House of Representatives will not be diminished; indeed, they expect to win a couple of seats in New South Wales. The state of the parties at the dissolution was: — House of Representatives. Labour 33 United Australia Party 26 United Country Party 15 Independent 1 Senate. Government 20 Labour 16 The result of the elections is likely to remain in doubt for some time owing to the plethora of candidates and parties and the checking of soldiers' votes here and abroad, also the distribution of preferences in doubtful contests.