LIBERAL MAJORITY IN FEDERAL ELCTIONS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLI, Issue 5968, 6 June 1913, Page 5

LIBERAL MAJORITY IN FEDERAL ELCTIONS

One Vote In the House —Labour Captures Senate —All Referenda Carried. GOVERNMENT HOPELESS ! I'i-r i'p.'ss As.-ociatiun—l"up\ right.) Sydney, June .">. !>!a\varra auh Ballarat. thi* two seals al the I'Vderai elcetious ior the House <>t Repre-.-.•ntatis <•<, which are sliil in | doubt. ureMili see-sawing. | In the former the Liberal candidate lias pulled ihe Labour ; iead down to 1 j i). ! In Ballarat the Labour ran!idate is leading by ei^ht votos (Hi present figures. j Ynth tho stipulation that absimU votes may upset some cai- ; '-illations, ih ( > "Herald makes the position :-— I Liberals ;>s .Labour .'}."> Doubtful •_> I he i eleuraphs estimate, is: — Liberals ;»s Labour ;^7 I he balance of opinion seems to favour Labour winning both doubtful .-eats, and the final ii<;iires giving- the Liberals a majority of one. it is estimated in round num- i bers that of the votes cast in 7:2 contested electorates, up to this niorninjr about 200,00(1 are absent votes, and these are still uncounted. Ihe absent votes ran.ire from a tew in some cases to several thousand in others, such as Perth. s<> that even a number of the electorates before count, ed as safe are not altogether out of the staye of doubt. No matter which party wins, ihe apparent margin is so narrow that, the position of the new House will be unsatisfactory and precarious. The count on the referenda proposals is likely to cover several more days. The figures are so far running closer than was anticipated''Yes" has a majority on all questions on the total vote, arid is loading" in'four States. These are the two conditions required for the success of the proposals, but it is too early yet to regard the result as certain. Alanv thousands of votes are

still in doubt, and the counting of absent votes is proceed\oiC very slowly.

It is unlikely that complete fio-iuvs for the election will b< i available before the end of next

week.

Tlk'. delay caused by absentee votes, is illustrated by the tact that at the Sydney Town Hall votes were polled for every electorate in the Commonwealth with the exception of one, and these have to be sent by post.

The Senate figures are largely incomplete in all the States.

In New South Wales the Libera, trio, viz., Sir Albert Gould, Mr Edward Millen and Mr Charles (hikes, have polled 305,----221 votes. 298,729 votes, and 297..V17 votes respectively. The n?arest Labour candidate is Mr John Grant, with 2.")(),371 votes.

The nearest Labour candidates lead. Mr Edward Russell nas polled 27.3,662 votes, Mr John Barnes "269,5%, and Mr Andrew McKissoek 268,577. The nearest Liberal candidate has obtained *2<>7;06-i votes.

In Queensland, Mr William Mauuhan (Labour) leads with 104.019, closely followed by Mr John Mullan, with 102,838, and Mr Myles Fcrricks, with .102,----•1S0. 'fhe nearest Liberal is Mr Thomas Chataway. with l^V

:H)2 votes

In South Australia, Mr James O'Loghlin (Labour) has 90 101 votes. Mr John Lowland (Labour) 50.520, and Mr William Senior (Labour) S7.IKH. The nearesy Liberal candidate is Mr Joseph Vardon. with

77.

574 \otes.

In West Australia. Mr George IVaree (Minister of Defence) has :)L,7-~>o votes, and the other two Labour candidates, Mr .htlward Needham and Mr Patrick Lyiu-h. ol.Utt and M.210 votes n'speetivdy. The nearest Liberal candidate is Mr William Butcher, with 17.1*21.

in' Tasmania the Liberals aro uvll ahead. Mr John Keatin? has :Ui.i:?7 aotes. Mr Thomas Bakhap :W,11«». and Mr Jplm demons :V5.112. The nearest Labour candidate is Mr James Hurst, with ;U.759 votes.

Mr Andrew Fisher (Premier) and Mr Joseph Cook (Leader ot <he Opposition) decline to express any definite opinion on the results until the position is better defined.

Mr Hughes i■Attorney-Gener-al) predicts a deadlock if th»» ijual returns <j\\v a Liberal ma-