Melbourne, Nov. 13, The election campaign is now in full swing. Masifestoes have been issued by the oficial Labour party and by the Victorian Farmers' Union, while the National policy has been unfolded in set speeches by the Prime Minister, Mr, Hughes, and by Sir Joseph Cook, Minister of the Navy, The manifesto of the Victorian Farmers' Union only has significance in that it represent the attitude of the Melbourne daily newspapers. The Union declines to act with the other anti-Labour organizations, and is putting forward its own candidates, not only in the farming constituencies, but also for the Senate as representing the whole of the State—commercial, manufacturing, mining and transport. Were it not that the preferential or exhaustive ballot has been introduced one might expect Labour to win the Senate in Victoria with ease. In the other States, however, the Farniers' Unions are acting in ce-operation with the Nationalists, and as a result they may secure some direct representation of their particular vie' Twe days after I last: wrote the Prime Minister delivered his policy speech, and its programme for the future followed upon expected lines, In order to carry the huge load of debt more production is required, and this can can only be accomplished by the establishment under protection of more industries, the attraction to the country of more population, and less industrial disturbances. In order to deal with profiteering he seeks additional powers not conferred by the Constitution, but in no way interfering with the two chief activities of the States—namely, the control of the lands and railways. The Labour maaifesto introduces some vitriolic abuse of the Government, promises special benefits which it is estimated will involve an expenditure of many millions, and proposes to entirely abolish the present Australian' Constitution, substituting therefore something hardly distinguishable from what is understood t" be the Soviet system of Russia. There is to~be one supreme, legislative chamber—the House of Repres~mtatives—no Senate, no State legislatures with their own constitutions, but merely provincial bodies which will take their orders from the Representatives, The latter will be supreme, without even the check of a second chamber. Curiously enough so far very little attention has been paid to this extraordinary proposal by the supporters of the Nationalist party, though the leader of the Labourites
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