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ELECTION IN FINAL PHASE
Keenest Campaign
for Many Years
Party leaders are making their final appeals to I.
the electors as the State election campaigri enters its
final phase before polling on Saturday.
Political meetings have been marked by record
attendances, indicating that the public is taking a. ,
much keener interest in the campaign than for some .
years. i
Thousands of miles
have been travelled by
party leaders m their ef
forts to win electors to
their cause.
The paramount issue of
the election campaign —
the two-for-one redistri
bution scheme — has
aroused the greatest in
terest in the metropoli
tan area, where candi
dates have been vigor
ously questioned on the
plan. '
It is in the metropolis
where the two-for-one
plan has received its
greatest support.
Redistribution , has
caused some controversy
in the country : elector
ates, but .there -the poll
will -be decided - largely
upon local issues.,
The broad principles of
the campaign have been
well publicised during the
past few weeks.
The questions being
asked of candidates in
these final days relate
more to their attitude to
wards the administration
of State affairs — schools,
housing and hospitals.
. Keenest interest in
the election is being
shown in the Glen Iris
contest . between Mr.
Hollway, .the former.
L.C.F.: Leader, and Mr. :
Norman, the present
.Leader.
- The result of this poll
will' have a big bearing
on future events in State
Parliament.
Polling on Saturday
will take place from 8
a:m. until 8 p.m., and
will be compulsory, with
a fine of up to £2 for
all over 21 years who do
not vote.
. Polling places . in the
metropolitan area will be
advertised in "The Age"
on Saturday.
Novel Malvern Meeting
More than 200 questions were fired at Mr. Oldham,
L.C.P. member for Malvern last night when he tried the U.S.
election technique of "questions only" at a meeting in St.
George's Hall, Malvern.
The chairman repeat
edly called for order as
would-be questioners all
over the hall argued
whose turn was next.
The experiment was a
cross between a riotous
success and . a successful
"riot."
It was a riotous success
m that questions came so
thick and fast, that Mr.
Oldham was often ' an
swering two at once. ,
It was a successful
"riot", in that hostile
questioners . argued so
loud and long with Mr.:
Oldham and with each
other . that only an oc
casional answer -could be
"heard..
Questions ranged, from
Canadian fiscal'' policy in
1948 to the -number of
children In Wilson-;
street. " ''
Voice Drowned
One; persistent ques
tioner asked Mr. Oldham:
"Is it not a fact that Vic-,
toria gets the measliest
hand-out from the Com
monwealth because it- is
the meanest, lousiest
and scabbiest State in
the Commonwealth ?" -
Mr. Oldham's reply was
lost m a flood of pro-
.tests/ i' '"/.
When the chairman re
stored order and singled
out the questioner, a dis
gruntled voice exclaimed
"He's' had six goes, al
ready."
A few .minutes later a
motion was put to the
chairman that one ques
tioner be . no . longer
heard.
When the ensuing up
roar ' died down. Mr.
Oldham could be heard
having a vociferous ar
gument with a man
who alleged Mr. Old-
hani had called him a
Communist.
Mi. Oldham made these
points in answer to more
than 200 questions: —
The equal representa
tion scheme of the L.C.P.
was just because he be
lieved there should be a
bias to the country. Coun- .
f.rv ruanrYlo woro fVtohanV
bone of the State.
If the L.C.P. and C.P.
had a majority after the
election they would gov
ern together. Choice of a
leader would be decided
at a joint party meet
ing.
Restoration,! of taxing
rights- to Victoria,, would,
mean, a,- substantial ; re-
ductiqti in, taxes for the.:
peoplfe of. this. State.
He, did not agree with
the cries that Victoria
was in a. deplorable state.
The gradual return to
economical stability
meant that Victoria was
m a strong position to
progress in education,
hospitals and other
works.
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