Australia at the Polls Mr. Lyons, the Prime Minister of
Australia, may leak forward to the General Election next week with some confi- dence. During the six years which his Government has held office Australia has climbed, without a setback, from the bottom of the depression to the greatest prosperity she has ever known ; with perhaps undue confidence, it is felt that the continuance of this prosperity is conditional only on avoidance of war. Thus the chief issue of the election is foreign, and especially defence, policy ; and it is of con- siderable importance to the Empire how it is decided. The Labour opposition demands a policy of isolation, combined with an air force capable independently of protecting Aus- tralia against any attack ; this assumption is based on the belief that, in the event of Great Britain being involved in war, she will be able to give no help to Australia. Mr. Lyons' policy is one of co-operation with Great Britain and the Dominions in Imperial defence, with recognition of Australia's responsibilities at sea as well as in the air, and of support for efforts to achieve collective security. Isolationist feeling has considerable strength in Australia ; but it is sig- nificant that the official Labour policy encounters much hostility, even among the Opposition, and especially the trade unions. In a bitter speech this week Mr. Curtin, the Opposition leader, has been violently attacked by Mr. Garland for a policy which condemns Labour to defeat and forbids any attempt to check Fascist, and especially Japanese, aggres- sion.
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