ELECTION IN CANADA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24591, 13 June 1945, Page 7

ELECTION IN CANADA

Liberals Returned GREATLY REDUCED MAJORITY (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 aim.) OTTAWA. June 12. m he Liberal Party in Canada, led by Mr W.-L. Mackenzie King, was returned to power with a much reduced majority at the General Election yesterday. The state of the parties at midnight was as follows: Liberals 115. Progressive Conservatives 60, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 20, Social Credit Party 13, Independents 6, Independent Liberals 8, Independent Conservative 1, Bloc Populaire 2, Labour Progressive 1, doubtful 19- Total. 245. The indications are that the Liberals, who held 156 seats in the previous Parliament, will have about 130 in the new House of Commons, the Conservatives 61, and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 21. Voting was heavy, possibly a record. The Canadian Press Association says Mr Mackenzie King appears to be assured of continuance in office, but with a sharply reduced majority. In Mr Mackenzie King’s own constituency early returns gave bis op-

ponent a lead, but later the Prime Minister recovered substantially. All the other party leaders were elected. The Minister of Defence (General A. G. L. McNaughton) was/defeated in Qu'Appelle. Saskatchewan, running behind both the Conservative and Co-op-erative Commonwealth Federation candidates. The Minister of National Revenue (Mr J. A. Maclaren) was also defeated. Most of the other Ministers appear to be elected. The service vote, expected to be announced on June 20, will probably affect a number of constituencies where the majority is very slender. Mr John Bracken, the Progressive Conservative ieader, said he accepted the people's verdict. He expressed the opinion that the years ahead would be difficult, but the Opposition would contribute constructively. Mr M. J. W. Coldwell, the Co-ope-rative Commonwealth Federation's leader, attributed his party's defeat jto "the issues of falsehoods, distortions, and confusion deliberately created," The Canadian Press Association say* the Government's previous heavy majority shrank to modest proportions as the result of losses in the west and in Quebec. Independents and' Independent Liberals were the chief gainers at the Liberals' expense. In Ontario the Progressive Conservatives gained At the General Election in March, 1940, the Liberals won 179 seats, the Conservatives 39. the New Democracy Party (including the Federal Social Credit Party) 9, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 8. and other parties and Independents 10.