Negative

Ben O'Connor never disappoints his listeners. "It is not my job to put forward an alternative scheme." he said, "As leader of the negative I can only refute what Mr. McCreary has said." He countered many of his opponent's whims and condemned socialism as a practical system. "The Government has entered into too many enterprises that do not concern it. Its function should be merely that of a referee."

Labour Party election platforms still rested largely on the errors of the Coalition Government during the slump. But what had been the record. In a Labour Australia, benefits had been paid at the rate of 8/9d. in Victoria and 9/6d. in New South Wales; this against 21/6d. In New Zealand.

Commodity prices were kept down by paying enormous subsidies. "This means a rise in taxation, and when taxation rises..." ("the cold air rushes in"—Higgin). "The inefficient IMD has been sold to the dairy companies. Family benefits, a good thing in themselves, were a sign of retrogression. The usual final peroration was boomed out to the rhythm of flesh on wood as he hammered a nail into the table with his fist.