SURPRISE RESULT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 303, 30 September 1940, Page 5

SURPRISE RESULT.

LABOUR LEADER WINS.

\ / THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, September 29. The most surprising development of the week-end checking of absentee anti postal votes ,and the distribution of preferences in tho 12 doubtful contests in the recent .Federal elections was'the last-minute victory of the Labour Leader, Mr J. Curtin, in Fremantle, by 522 votes, owing mainly to the good support he received from soldiers; ‘Mr Curtin Jias ascertained that Communists in Western Australia hurled a block vote of GOOO against him causing his early setback. There are still a number of seats definitely in doubt, of which Labour needs five in order to deprive tho Government of a working majority. It appears to have an excellent chance of winning four, if not five. On the other hand the Government’s campaign directors express the opinion that the Government parties will finally win out with a majority of two or three.

TO AVOID STALEMATE.

SIR EARLE PAGE’S SUGGESTION.

(Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day

Sir Earle Page (former leader of the Australian Country Party) has issued a statement urging the immediate formation of an All-Australian Government of the best brains, as Australia’s Avar position is too critical to permit a stalemate in the Government arising out of the elections. He advocated the centralisation of the headquarters of the Government at Canberra, and a revicAv of the external exchange position making available Australian nayal bases to the United States Navy.