FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1943, Page 4

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Australian Prospects

CAMPAIGNING BEGINS ATTACK BY~SUPPORTERS OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 7.50) SYDNEY, May 10. Ranging shots in Australia’s forthcoming Federal election battle are now being fired. Both Government and Opposition leaders have begun active campaigning. Although normally due in November surprise elections are possible in July. Labour is at present holding ofiice by virtue of two Independent votes, and expects to increase its strength at the ballot. Much, however, will depend upon developments in the intervening period. The Government’s greatest electoral asset at the moment is perhaps best assessed as the “public’s belief in the sincerity and strength of Mr Curtin’s war purpose as Prime Minister.” Of the many whips nowbeing employed by tfle Opposition to flail Labour in ofiice, those most effective appear to be allegations of, firstly, a vaccilating attitude towards industrial disputes, and of, secondly, efforts to introduce socialism under the guise of war necessity. Recent divisions among Opposition Party members have not assisted the election chances of the joint out-of-ollice group. Many quarters feel, too, that success in the coming elections will require more dynamic leadership than may be afforded by Mr Fadden. Nevertheless the position is a delicately balanced one with no present clear-cut indication of the direction in which voting may swing. In the 1940 .Federal elections Labour polled 1,911,000 votes against 1,977,000 for the joint Opposition. Mr Curtin won the Fremantle seat by only 641 votes, but his high personal prestige is expected to give him a substantial majority at the next polling. While Mr Curtin is personally desirous that Parliament shall see out its full term of ofiice, obstructionist tactics by the Senate Opposition majority may precipitate a crisis during the forthcoming June Parliamentary session provoking election in July. Many Australians believe strongly that the scheduled Federal elections are a mistake, and a National Government should be formed. “The elections, with thelir weakening cleavage, are only made necessary by the refusal to form a National Government.” writes Sir Keith Murdoch, Melbourne newspaper executive. He adds: “The hot breath of Japan scorches our very cheeks. The red embrace is held off by the sacrifice of our dearest and finest sons. But we are compelled to deal with the internal trouble of an election and accept its bitterness and disorder.” Two reasons are advanced by Sir Keith for the failure to form a National Government. These, he says, are: “Firstly, the Labour Party is under the sway of professional trade union leaders, who insist that an internal class fight must be pursued at any cost; secondly, the Labour Caucus is revelling in the joys of office, pay and power.” There appears to be no likelihood, however, that the elections will be abandoned in favour of a National Government. One substantial straw in the wind is tentative “vote catching” legislation in the shape of a Bill now being drafted for the June session to introduce national unemployment and sickness benefits. Moreover, Mr Curtin, responding to genuine public unrest about the chances of socialism by stealth, has declared: “We have riot socialised Australia, and we do not intend to do it just because we are at war.” Political correspondents comment that this statement offers no positive insurance against socialisation.