THE FLINDERS SEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 244, 15 October 1929, Page 7

THE FLINDERS SEAT.

Prime Minister "By No Means Safe." LABOUR JUBILANT. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Yesterday's cheek of the Federal election papers determined the fate of four doubtful seats. Each has gone to Labour, increasing the strength of that party to 42 ,in a House of 75. The indications are that .at least four other doubtful seats will also go to Labour, which would bring the party's total to 46 seats. At the most the former Ministerial coalition party can win only 22 seats. Four other seats have already been won bv the unendorsed Independent Nationalists namelv, Messrs. W. M. Hughes, Ty- M Marks, G. A. Maxwell and one Independent Country party candidate, Mr.-.-P.-.G. Stewart. A"' message from Melbourne says the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, is by no means safe at Flinders as it is now reported that his Liberal opponent, Mr. J Birch,' requested the voters to give their second preferences to Mr. E. J. Holloway (Labour). If that were done in a substantial measure it should enable Mr. Holloway to win. Mr. Bruce now is 13S votes behind his Labour opponent, Mr. Holloway. Mr. Bruce stated that even if he is defeated le will closely identify himself with Australian politics. He will probably take a holiday shortly and may visit New Zealand. There is a similar development in the Henty electorate (Victoria). Mr. H. S. Guilett, Minister of Customs, is so closely pursued by the Labour candidate,' Mr. W. J. Duggan, that he too maybe defeated in the same manner. The outcome of both these contests whTnot be known for two days. Expressing satisfaction at the outcome' of the election Mr. C. Crofts, general secretary of the Australian Council of Trades Unions, describes it as a political' earthquake. He added: "It is the first time in the history of Australia that'an'election has been fought and won purely On an industrial questicfi." Great . jubilation is felt in Labour circles over the election victory. Exactly what the new Government's programme will be nobody knows, as the election was fought solely on the arbitration issue, which now is settled. However, it is likely that immediate steps;.will be taken to relieve unemployment! present new Budget proposals and consider tariff.matters. MrJ Bruce announces that his Ministry will resign on Monday. The Australian Workers' Union claims that, it will: have a preponderance of the representation in the incoming Ministry. etfe ?■*?.>. ,:•■ ..',;■- -: ■■. '-'--«