Evening star., 1949-12-12
Australia Also Swings Right

The defeat of the Labor Government IN
Australia, following only ten days after a
similar defeat for the Labor Government
of New Zealand, logically indicates politi-
cal trend which applies to both those An
tipodean Commonwealths and may fore
shadow a similar tendency in the British
homeland, since all three are virtually
identical in blood and react to the same
basic impulses and ideals. However, the
material circumstances differ notably be-
tween Britain and its distant ohshoots,
which should temper speculation on the
coming British elections.
That labor has taken sound beating
in the British Antipodes is obvious. Both
Labor Governments were long in power
and seemingly well entrenched - eight
years in Australia and fourteen years In
New Zealand. They have been ousted by
an opposition which campaigned against
Socialism, with its bureaucratic controls
and nationallzing aims. under the banner
of "free enterprise" This was the out
standing issue. though others played their
part, notably the opposition pledge to out
law the Communist Party and institute
compulsory military training, both o!
which Labor had sidestepped or opposed.
It Is interesting to note that the greatest
overturn came in the State OF Queensland,
which had long been stronghold OF radl-
cal Laborism. Apparently, the voters re-
acted against Laborite policies to the de-
gree that they had personally experienced
them.
The incoming government in Australia
will be coalition cabinet made up of the
Liberal and Country parties, the latter
representing the rural interests, such as
wool and wheat. In the past, they have
not seen fully eye to eye on certain eco
nomic issues, but this time they seem to
have combined so solidly in common
program that the unity of the government
can be fairly taken for granted. This Is
all the more likely because, though de-
feated, the Laborites will form too strong
a parliamentary opposition to permit intra-
coalition wrangling
For American observers, especially, GER
tain aspects of these elections need to be
understood to avoid misinterpretation OF
their true significance. In the FIRST place,
when Australian and New Zealand Liberals
talk about free enterprise" they do not
mean a return to Nineteenth Century lais-
sez-faire. Both countries have long been
pioneers in social services which. with us,
are still criticized as tending toward the
"welfare state" None of that elaborate well
fare structure, such as old-age pensions,
maternity benefits, family allotments and
other measures shielding the individual
from want, will be touched by the new
administrations. The chief difference Will
be a change in emphasis from socialistic
to an individualistic attitude in economic
life, coupled with relaxing or abolition OF
controls on economic activity and an at
tempt to restrict or minimize bureau
cratic methods. That should certainly be
popular with the electorate, which SEEM
ingly revolted more against the way Labor
administered it's policies than against the
policies themselves.
The new Australian Coalition Govern
ment will have strong leader in It's next
Prime Minister, Robert Gordon Menzles.
He is a political veteran and headed the
anti-Labor coalition that governed the
Commonwealth from 1899 to 1941. That
government rested on so slender a parlla-
mentary majority that it was never secure
or able to carry out its campaign pledges,
which contributed to the Labor victory
that ensued. This time, Premier Menzies
will have a majority sufficient for his po-
litical aims and purposes And since much
the same is true of New Zealand, both
Commonwealths appear to be destined Tor
a period of efficient Liberal rule.