def labelCount(self):
        """
        Returns the label count for this axis.  If the labels have been
        defined then the length of the labels list will be provided, otherwise
        the hardcoded label count will be returned.
        
        :return     <int>
        """
        if self._labels is None:
            count = self.maximumLabelCount()
            if count is None:
                return 1
            else:
                return count
        
        return len(self._labels)