CANBERRA, Oct. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Most Australian major newspapers have expressed their preferences on Saturday's federal election, endorsing the ruling coalition returning to government.

    The Australian said Friday in its editorial that under the rule of the coalition, Australia's economy has boomed, unemployment has fallen and interest payments on mortgages have remained low.

    "There is a case for change alright, but it would need to be based on a reform program that extends, rather than unwinds, the gains of the past two decades," it said.

    It said Labor's reform is inadequate. "Labor has not made such a case, and so The Australian believes the Howard government deserves to be returned tomorrow," it said.

    The Australian Financial Review also endorsed Prime Minister John Howard's fourth re-election although it said there had been too much pork-barrelling.

    "That, and Labor's cynical obstruction of reform in opposition,should be enough to give John Howard his coveted fourth election win," said the paper.

    The Age newspaper of Melbourne, capital of the state of Victoria, said it believes the return of the Howard government maybe the best outcome for Australia because of two reasons.

    "The first is that the coalition has presided over almost a decade of sustained economic growth and increasing prosperity ... The second reason is that, despite the fact Mark Latham has performed well during the campaign, he remains in many ways a workin progress," it said in its editorial.

    By contrast, The Canberra Times expressed its preferences on Labor Leader Mark Latham, saying it's time for another driver of the country.

    "John Howard has plenty of physical vigor left, and not a few political reflexes, but increasingly is not using his ideas to drive the country," the paper said.

    Meanwhile, The Sydney Morning Herald stopped endorsing a party to win government, saying "From today, the Herald will no longer endorse a political party."

    "There comes a time when a newspaper, having expressed its voting preference for more than 170 years, must renew and reassessits claim on independence so that its pursuit of truth is not onlyfree of partisanship and without fear or favor but is seen to be so," it said. Enditem