Evening star., 1950-01-17
BY Morley Cossidy

ny mofiey SoSSioy
MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan
17.-Most of Americas practical
politicians" feel reasonably sure
would laugh themselves right out
of their suspenders if any one sug.
gested they run for Office on a
slogan of Vote for Whoozis and
Dear Old First National Bankr
Pure suicide, they'd say. But
their eyes might pop if they talked
to some of the voters who have
just thrown Australia's socialist
minded Labor government out of
Office.
They'd find Australians still
boiling with indignation over what
Labor tried to do to "our banks.
The tone is almost as though
they were speaking of an out
rage against "our Nell" 1t makes
a starnger blink.
A Waiter Explains.
The brisk little waiter in a
Collins street restaurant, here in
Melbourne, good union man, says
he voted Labor in 1943, natural
ly." This time he switched.
II couldn't go for this bank ma
tionalization," he says earnestly.
"You know, that's just one step
from dictatorship.
Personally" he explains, II
don't have any dealings with
banks, outside of my savings ac-
count. But suppose I decided
to start restaurant.
If I needed a loan, there's a
half dozen banks could go to. If
one turned me down, I could go
to another.
But under this naturalization
scheme, there'd be just one bank
the Commonwealth bank. If I went
to them for a loan and they turn
ed me down, I'd be out of luck
That's dictatorship"
He is no rare specimen. Three
out Of four people. among the
hundreds I have talked to In
Australia, have cited the Labor
governments attempt to national
ize the banks, and the prospect
that 1t quickly would take over
other industries, as a major rea-
son for their vote to GUST the
Labor government that had held
Office since 1941.
7 know as well as any ward
politician that this is incredible.
But there you are. And Labor is
out.
Out Promising Failed.
It is. the more astounding, ac-
cording to one Of the master
minds who mapped out the vic
torious Liberals campaign, when
compared with what happened
three years ago.
I'm 1s46 we tried to out-promise
Labor" says this man, too modest
10 let his name be used.
1--WE promised to extend child
endowment. to raise old age and
invalid pensions, and a list OF
other benefits. We cut Labor's
vote by about 2 per cent. But we
lost.
"This time we promised nothing
in the way of easy vote-catchers
so-called. We did promise. as be-
fore, to extend the child endow-
ment to cover the first child, but
only because we believe 1t should
be done. 4
Didn't Mince Words.
I'VE didn't renew our promises
to eliminate the means test, or
raise the pensions. On national
insurance we simply said we would
examine the possibilities with a
view to submitting a plan in 1852.
I'VE didn't mince words about a
lot Of things that seemed like
dynamite. We said the nations
defense called for selective train
ing-call 1t conscription. We said
we'd be tough with illegal strikes.
Our whole campaign was
1ullPIy tl11S.
Here's the socialist state.
Here's what is has done to you
90 far. Here, from its own state
ments, Is what it plans to do in
the future. How do you like 1t?
"The result was a landslide.
How do I account for it?"
Making the Issue Clear.
He doodled for q minute or 20
On his desk blotter.
IT'D put 1t this way: There's no
use trying to out-promise the So
eialists.
They'll always get the people
who want promises of easy bene-
fits, no matter what the other side
offers. So you can save your
breath-and the taxpayers pock-
etbook.
Socialism. fortunately. seems
to answer itself with it's works
Let people have a good taste of
1t, with all it's mistakes. Then put
the issue squarely, as an issue that
touches every aspect of people,
daily life, the issue Of government
monopoly, controls and a planned
state, or individual freedom and
free competition.