THE LABOUR MAJORITY FIFTEEN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 5

THE LABOUR MAJORITY FIFTEEN.

COMMONWEALTH ELECTION. MINISTRY PROBABLY DEFEATED IN BOTH HOUSES. • REFERENDUM ISSUES SO FAR NEGATIVE. Bt Tel«craph-Prejß (Rec. April 15, 1.10 a.m.) . Sydney, April 14. The results so far to hand of the Commonwealth general election' show the stateoosf s parties in the House of Representatives to bo at under:— . ' Labour party '. 45 Fusion Government ~i „.: 30 Probable Labour majority ......... 15 ■ When the final returns in all the electorates come to hand, it is possible that there may be some change in the figures, improving the position of the Government. In the election for Senators (18), the Labeur party is leading in all the States.' • . .

HONORARY MINISTER REJECTED

COLONEL FOXTON. (Rec. April 15, 1.5 a.m.) Brisbane, April li. Colonel Foxton (Honorary Minister in the Fusion Government and Commonwealth delegate to, last year's Imperial Defence Conference) was defeated for Brisbane by Mr. W. F. Finlayson (Labour). "A BRjLLIANT VICTORY." DETAILS QF THE ROLLING. . Sydney, April .14. ■ In connection with the I'etjeral election (already described by the "Sydney Daily Telegraph" as "a brilljant victory for Labour , '), very fow returns, even of the metropolitan area, are yet complete. Though there is nof a great deal of excitement, the keenest interest is being ehown in the result. Last night oheering crowds blocked the streets in the vicinity, of all the newspaper offices—whero the returns are posted—waiting till an early hour in the morning.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, New South Wales (27 Seats).

■ In the Dalley division, Mr. Bobert Howe (Labour) defeated Mr. Wilks, tho pip . Government member,, by over 3000 votes. « Newcastle sent Mr. David Watkins, the pld Labour member, back with a three to one majority. ' v . ■ 'In the Cppk division of Sydney, Mr. J. H. Catts (Labour) holds his place, with a two to one majority.' ; Labour polled very strong on the Harrier, Mr.'Josiah'Thomas (the o|d member) securing over: 6000 supporters, and the Government candidate (Mr. W. 1\ Shepherd) under 1000. ■■ Old Labour members—Mr. W. G. Spenoe for Darling, Mr. Thomas Brown for Calare.Mr. Wm. Webster for Gwydir, Mr. E. S. ,Carr for Macquarie, Mr.', I'. J. Foster ■ for Now England, Mr., J. M. Chanter for Riyerina,, and Mr. D. It. Hall for, Werriwa—hold safe positions. • Mr. M. Charlton-(Labour) is also safe ■ for • Hunter,"' and it looks ■ s if Labour, will also- capture Robertson, whero Mr. W. J. Johnson is leading ' by over a thousand. ', East Sydney (for which Sir George Reid, Australian High Commissioner, sat) has boon captured by the Labour pandidatc, Mr. West, who beat the Liberal bypver 300Q'vqtes. " ■" '.' ' In South Sydney, Mr. Riley (Labour) polled 12,599 votes against the MOO of Mr. Eden George (G.). ' At Wist. Sy4ney, Mr. W. M.. Hughes (Labour iea'4pr), -pho tppk a prominent part in the late strike, goes back with jiearly 8000. to the good, : It looked as if Lang, another city divjsipn, had gone to'tije Labour candidate, the Rey. T. S. Crawford, who at one stag«| led by 27,: but later details show, that tho Government candidate, Mr. W. E. Johnson, has gone 101 ■ votes ahead. Thero are a few returns still to come.' North Sydney has remained true to thp Government, ttp Liberal (Mr. Edwards) having a handsome majority, as also did the Parkes apd 'Wentwor'th divisions, whore Mr.. Bruce Smith and Mr. W. H. Kelly have long leads. ■ Tlio Liberals every : prospect of returning;members for Illawarra, Nepean, and Cowper. ' The returns for the other States are all very" incomplete: . : \, ■Victoria (22 Seats). In Victoria the only complete returns are thosa for Ports, where Mr. James Matthews, the , old Labour member, secured a thumping majority, and for Bourke, where Mr. Frank Anstey (Labpur) easjjy knocked out Mr. Hump Cook, tho old Government member. In tho ten of the twenty other seats, Labour is leading the Government candidates in seven, and the Independents in three. ' '

' The Victorian Government seats that are in danger include those of Messrs. Crouch, Dr. Carty Salmon (Speaker), Brown, and Robert Harper. The latest figures give the Prime Minister, Mr. Deakin, a lead of 507 votes at Ballarat, and Sir John Quick, Post-master-Generali a lead of 5,44 votes at Bendigo. Mr. Mauger'(Government) is threatened by the Labour candidate, Mr. teuton, in his sent at Maribyrnong. Mr. Will. Knox. tho old' member (.Government) for Kooyong, is safe. Queensland (9 Spats). Of tho nine seats in Queensland labour is leading for sis, and the Government for three. Mr. L. E. Groom, Minister for External Affairs is sale for Darling Downs. II r. A. Fisher, Leader of the Labour party, is now COO votes to the good for the 'Wide Bay seat. . South Australia (7 Seats). Labour secured unopposed returns in two cases—Mr. Poynton and Mr. Archibald—and the Government secured an nn'ppposed return in one case, that of Mr. Glynn, Attpqiey-General. . Of the other four seats, Labour is leading in two and the Government in'two. The return of Mr. Batcholor (Labour) , is certain. : Tasmania (5 Seats). Of tho five Tasmaniun seats, Labour has apparently a snfo lead for three, the Government are leading safely for one, and in the remaining one the issue is doubtful. , ■

Western Australia (5 Seats). Of tho fiyo seats it looks ps if tjireq wil| go to Labpur and two to the Government.

Sir John Forrest is well ahead of the' Labour candidate in the Swan electorate. SENATE ANP REFERENDUM. LABOUR LEADING.FOR THE UPPER HOUSE. . . NEGATIVE MAJORITIES. The figures with regard to the election of the eighteen Senators who are retiring (that is, half the Senate, three in each of the six States) are in a very backward state, and it is not likely that they will be' completed for some, days; but in all the States, excepting Victoria, where two Labour s»nd one Government candidate hold the moat prominent places, the Labour bunches have a lead. , The referendum : vote is still further behind.. Small return? to hand giye the "Noes" " a majority on both jssues—the Financial Agreement (replacing of tho Braddon Clauso with an arrangement to pay the States 255.. per head of population per annum) and the transfer of the State debts to the Commonwealth. WORKING MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSES.' GAINS IN ALL STATES. ;■ . The "Sydney Daily Telegraph" announces a brilliant victory for Labour. The Sydney "Sydney Morning Herald" heads its election report :—"Labour party's Success." "Gains in all. States." "A Working Majority in Both Houses."

The "Herald" largely attributes Labour's viptory tQ the splendid organisation. "It went'into the fight with everything ready to the lastgaiter button. The Labour voter took up his share of the burden with an easy confidence which was half the way to victory. As much could not be said of the Liberals (GoIvernment) though organisation was carried, much further than in any previous campaign. Th« polling shows that, the Liberals in numerous instances, slept.upon guns." '• . •/■■'•..'

Tho "Telegraph" saye '-"Whatever the final result, Labour is certain to substantially improve its position, while there is a "fair possibility .'of. its scoring an absolute.majqrity in both Houses. If we are. to hayea Labour Ministry it is better that we should have a strong on?," .

Labour is jubilant at the results of the election. . ■ '.'."''■ jUb fusion's death-blow. a well-deser.vep fate, sats the "AGE." ', ' "•■• ■;■' (R'ec. April U, 10.45 p.m.) . Melbourne, April 14. rho Age , -' says:-'? The. striking feature of the contest is, the faje which ha S overtaken the Fusion government. In all probability the Fusion has received its death-blow. . : ' ' "Just as it was the post demoralising Plot evor hatched agajnst the' fighte and liberties of the people, so have the'people risen up punishe4 v it and its authors.'^ .. ■ TWO DEATHS, ' . * ■__ , Sydney, April M. Tti-o deaths occurred in connection with the federal election. A woman namqd' Rpptes drppped dead a.t -Thornleigh while on her way to record her vote, ; and a polling clerk named. Reeves dropped dead* at the Ballarat booth. ' '■ ,' ■NEW ZEALAND COi^GRATULATIONS. (By Teleeraph-Presa Asspc|atlon.| ■\t n \r<T Aprif 14. Mr. D. MLaren, M.P. fpr Wellington tast, to-night dispatched the following cablegram to Mr. Andrew Ksher, Labour Loader, of Gympje, Queensland: gratulations from New.Zealand Labourites. • '.■'■

DETAILED RESULTS. 6 is .compiled irom thd earlier detailed cablegrams, as published α-boye-.— ' "V ■'■■ Neyy Soidh Wales. West Sydney: W. M. Hughes (Lab.) elected with, nearly.SQOO, majority. Defeats S,- L. Cole (G.) nut) H. E. HfllJand (OOC.). . . . ■ ' " "■' ■ Robertson: Wm. J. Johjispn (Lab.), probably safe. Defeats Hy. Willis. (G.). Werriwa: D.ayid R.Hall (lib.), safe. Defeats G. Eyre (G.).' ' '". p _]{iverina; John Af Chanter (Lab.), safe. Defeats J. T. Jackson (G.) afld E. D. PDwyOT.(lndeperiident).. " "' ' New England: Frank J. Foster (Lab.), safe. Defeats. W.. M. Fleming (G.). ' Macquarie: Ernest S. Carr (Lab.), safe. Pe,(eats A. H. Conroy (fi.)." Hunter: Matthew Charlton (Lab.), safe Defeats F. Liddell (G.).' ' • • : Gwydor: AVni. Webstw (Lab.), eafe. Defeats R. Patten (G.). . : '■. . . Calare: Thos. Brdivn (Lab.), safe. Defeats H.R. M. Pigoft (G.)/ ! Darjilig: Wra. G. Wo (Lab.), £a fo. Defeats Jas. G. Carroll (G.). .Bnrrier: Josiah Thomas (Lab.), elected. Heavily defeats Win. F.' Shepherd (G.) .Cook: Jns. H. (Lab.), elected Pefeats Wm. R.Clngg (G.). - Dalley: Robert Howe (Lab.), elected pofoaU Wm. Hy.- Ayilkes (G.). ' " South Sydney: Edwanl Eiley (Lab) elfcted. Hceyily defeats flden George (G) East Sydney: John Edward West (LabV elected. Defeats S.E; Lees (G.). NcwKXsHe: ' Da.rid '.AVatkins (Lab) easily elected. Defeats, F.' E. Pulsfohl (G.). . ■..'"■ ' H'une:. Sir Wm. v Lyno (Independent, voting with Labour), elected. Defeats B J. Grogau (G.). Parramnbta: Jpsejh Cook, Minietcr for Defence, eleotod- Defea-ie A. E. Broue (Lab.). Illfl-iyarra: G. W. Fultor, Minister for Home Affairs, leadiaig (and beljeved to be safe) from G. M.' Bnqis (Lab.). I/MIR: Wm, E.Joluvsoii (Q.), leading bv 101 votes from" Hie Rev. T. S. Crawfor'.}, Pwvsbyteriaii minister (Lab.). North Sydney: Gra>. K Edwards fG) Rented. Defeats J. B. «Tcp! (Indcncndsnl) and P. E. Tiglie (Lab.). ' ' " Parkes: Bnico Smith (G.), safe. Dp-fea/l-s 11. E. Pratten (Indepeiideut) andM. H. Burgess (Ijali.). Wentworth: Wm. Hy. Kelly (G.), safe. Defeats A. J, L. Ver&ou (LabJ. ■'"•"

i Cowper: John Thomson (Ci.), probably safe, Defeats .Clement Johnsou (Lab.) and John O'Brien (Independent Lab.). Nepean: Erio K. Bowden (G.), probably safe. Defeats Geo. Cana (Lab.). ' Eden-Monaio: Austin Chapmen (GO, returned unopposed. Summary for New South Wales: Out of 27 electorates in this State, 26 are included above. The forecast gives 18 to Labour and 8 to the Government. Subsequent may vary these resulte, hut when it is remembered (hat Labour's total, following in the last Parliament was 27, it is clear that Labour has made great gains in the Mother State. Victoria. Ballarat: Alfred Deakin, Prime Minister leading by 507 votes from Mr. D. IV Russell (Lab.). ... Bendigo: Sir John Quick, PostmasterGeneral, leading" by 544 votes from Frank Breiman (Lab;)..: '."'■.■ Kooyong: William Knox (G.), safe: Defeats A.. G. Luiiisden (IndependeißK Marihymoug: R«sult in doubt. Sitting Government . member, Samuel Slauger, opposed by Jas. E. I'eoiton (Lab.). Meruda: The sitting Government member, Robt. Harper (recently one of the accused in the Ronald-Harper conspiracy in danger. Labour opponent: J. J. Kenneally, also two' Independent candidates. ' . .' : Indi: The sitting Government member, Joseph T. Brown, in danger. Labour opponent: P, J. Moloney. Laaneooorie.: The sitting Government member, _ Dr. . Ohas. Carty Salmon, Speaker, in danger. Labour opponent: Arthur J. Fraser.' , . ' ■ Corio: The sitting Government member, Riohard A. Crouch, in dapger. Labour opponent :• Alfred T. Ozanne. ' Bourke: Frank Aastey' (Lab.), elected. Heavily defeats Hume Cook, sitting Government member. ■ Melbourne Ports:'Jae. Matthews (Lab.), elected. . Heavily defeats Alex. G. C. . Ramsay (G.). 1 Summary for Victoria: Of the 22 Vic- • torian seats the cabled forecast, covers discloses two Labour wins, and ten electorates where Labour leads, making 12 60 far in Labour's favour;. while the Government has won or leads in three, . including two' Ministerial. . ' South Australia. Bpothhy: Egerton Lee Baitchelor (Lab.) is considered certain to be returned. Gov- . opponent. Paris Nesbit. Hindmarsh: Wm. 0. Archibald : (Üb.), returned unopposed. ..... 1 Grey:.Alex. Poynton (Lib.), returned ' unopposed. ; . Angas*P. M. Glvnn, Attorney-General, . returned unopppeed.' Summary for South Australia: Of tho 1 seven South Australian 6eats, Labour, ac- ■ cording to the cablegram, has secured two , and leads in two, total" J; the Government has secured one, and leads in ' two, . total 3. ' "■'• ■■'."••. ! Queensland. ' 1 Wide Bay: A. Fisher (Labour leader), i leading by 600 votes from Jacob Srhmm Darling Downs: Groom, Minister for External Affair's, "safe. : Defeats .M. Harwand (Lab.). : ' • ' ' ■■'.""■. ■ Summary for Of the nine Queensland seats, LaboiiT leads in ' six, the"Government,in three. ••'•' Western Australia. . Swan: Sir ■ John . Forrest, Federal Treasurer, well ahead of P. X. O'Loghlen ■ (Lab.). , ..- .. ■: : : Summary for Western. Australia: Of ■ this State's five seate it looks ae if three will go to Labour and two to the Lib- ' erals. ' .'".■■ . ■ [,■ , . Tasmania, Sunimary for Tasmania: Of Tasmania's ■ five seats, Labour has apparently a- safe ■ : lead for three, the Government is leading , safely for oae, and in. the fifth pne. the issue ia doubtful. ' , .

. PROBABLE LABQUR CABINET. : ,

.. ■' SOME OF THE LEADERS. If tho cabled forecasts are anything like correct, the new Federal Parliament will see a ne* Labour Ministry. There havo been two Commonwealth Labour Ministeries before, that headed by Mr. J.C. Watson," and th.at by Mr. Andrew j i''isher, the present 'Labout leader/ But both , , of these Ministries stood on a qujfo dj iferent footing to that which' is now looming on the horizoir. . The Watson and Fisher Ministries belonged to- the (lays of the three-party.system, and were transitory phases of its evolution. The fhree-pirty system has ■ now been bai(lshed, by the fusion of the npri-Labqur forces, and the p.roraWed. Labpur victory jvill be' one' 1 secured against; a .'united ph'alani pf opponents—Labour'' v. Allcomers—and fn"'a'general plectiqn brought about by pfliuxifln of tiine, inyilring a Retailed campaign, and a "deliberate trial of strength all'over the' Continent. The victory obviously owes nothing to cliauce. \Vhoever wjns", it is a.win oil sheer njcrit. Th,e: l-abotir Leader,' ...'"■■/ : If Labour commands the now House of Keprosentiitiyes, tijera can be but' one frime Mihistir, aid he is My, Andrew Fjsher. '." Bern'at' CTO.ssh.ouso,'. in Ayrshire,! 'Scotland/oh August 2,. Mr. fisher is now 47 years pf age'. He went to schopl. in ■Ayrshire, , and. worked asa miiier there 'fc'r spmb yours'. -DefiMi at the age. of 23 years,- 'I.e. came to (Jupenshind. Hp>-naturally: wont. to lhe mining dijtrjats, aiid finally found himself at .Qynipie. 'ihcre Mr< Fisher settled down, and there.he lived uhtjl his entry into l'edeyal politics brought him to' 'Melbourne. ■ ..'...-. ■-,■..-■ Labour has' always been active in Queensland, and Mr. Fisher joined to a Scottish earnestness pf purpose a'great admiration for the aims pf a Labour movement, which he fpund just starting ,when he began en the Gympie He entered/actively into the politics of the place, and became an prganiser and leader among the Labour unions of Gympip. When it was,decided to run a Labour candidate for tho Gympie seat in the Queensland Assembly in 1893, Mr. i Fisher, then 31: years of age, was selected. Hβ was returned, and has remained in politics ever since. : . ' -. ■ • The Queensland Labour' party was one pf the first in' Australia . tp reach the Treasury benohes. In. 1899'Hγ. Andrew Dawson (afterwards a senater and Federal Minister for Defence) formed a Labour 'Administration in the Queensland Parliament. Mr.: Fisher, was one of his Ministers, with the dual' portfolio of Secretary for Railways and Minister for Public Works. The Ministry was shortlived, but it gave Mr.. Fisher early experience pf Ministerial responsibility. .. When federation was. established, Mr. Fisher, resigned from the State House to contest the Wide. Bay seat in the Federal- House of Representatives. The Wide Bay electorate includes Mr. Fisher's old Sidfie constituency of Gympie, and he retaiiied his • seat in, the three previ,pns elections held'in the Commonwealth: In the Federal Parliament he has always exbr'cissl great influence in tl'e caucus. He was Minister forTnide and Custonis in the Watsp.n Ministry nf After the defenj; of the Watson Ministry Mr; Fisher, was elected deputy leader 'of the : party, and when Mr. J. C. : Watson decided to relinquish .'active politics last year the caucus chose Miv Fisher us its lender. He is of all. things a man of caution and ' brevity—both Scottish characteristics. He has the confidence of his party ■ and the respect of-the'Parliament.. Ho has been described as the only possible leader of the Labpur party and-the'only possible/Prime Minister of a Labour Administration. . '■'.■ ■'.'; . Success of Mr- Hughes. The eleotion is a personal triumph for Mr. AVni; Morris Hughes, as well as an i jidvnnce'fpr his party. Admittedly one ■ pf the' cleverost nien'and, ablest speakers i on his side, he was placed, during- the i recent strikes, in a position of extreme ' difficulty. As an opponent of labnrir-in- i )olitics, and one who looks to the ballot- I rax rather than to industrial war as th« f effective weapon, Jtr. Hushes lini! to hold t the fort against the Bowlinps , and other c advocates of a general, paralysing strike, i With an eye constnntly fi.wd ahead upon ci the very eleotion now hoinff held, he resisted evory effort to make war upon the ( ] community as a whole by a KPtiornl ces- <■ sation'of work;. «nil though li(> had nt hard task to hold' hfs wharf lalrourerJi • together, he never flinched. T!>e veivffe geance of militant labour has followed him, for his seat'has been contested on' this occasion by the widely-known So-cialisl-Auarohist Mr. Holland, but the y three-conierfxl contest has not' prevented c the name of Hushes l>eing again hoisted ii pu top with a huge majority. , r Mr. Hughes was born in Wales on Scp- a tembor 25, 1861. He went to school it <* a t.

Llonduno Grammar School, unci '.'■><• Baroness Bitrdctt Coutts's psli-'.'. ■.'' :.s'.minster. Hβ caipo to Austra..u in li»V ■ and spent some time teaching in tile alate echools. He is one of the foremost menin the Labour party, and has the donfidence of three of the largest unions of workers in New South' Wales. He ia president o£ the Waterside Workers' Federation—an association claiming over 10,000 members—and is secretary of the ' Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union, and president of the New South Wales Carters' Union. He first entered politics in , New South Wales in 1894, as member for the Lang division of Sydney, in the Legislative Assembly; In 1901 ho woe elected to the first House of Representatives as member for West Sydney, and he has retained his seat ever since. , In the intervals of political life he found time to undertake a University course in law, and was called to ' the New South Wales bar in 1903. Since then.. he has acter as counsel in several ini'"portant cases in which workers were in- ■; terested. He was Minister for External ■ Affairs in the Watson Cabinet in -1903, ,: and was Attorney-General in the Fisher Cabinet, and has always taken an important part in all the deliberations of • the caucus. He was chairman of, the Royal Commission on the Iron Bonus. Bill in 1904, and chairman of the Navigation Commission in 1904 and 1005. In 1907 lie was chosen by the Deakin Ministry to act as one of the Commonwealth representatives on the 1 Navigation Conference, which was held in London. ■ Mr. Batchelor. ~.,... . N . Mr. Egerton Lee Batchelor, who wa» 1 Minister for External '. Affairs in the, Fisher Government, is looked uppii aa . ■ certain of return.' He was born iri.Ade-' laide, and is 44 years of age. He was for some time a State school .teacher, '; and was afterwards. in the engineerings branch of the Government.workshops. He.; was. president of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and of the Railway As- ■•. sociation. , In 1893 he entered the South ■ Australian House of Representatives, a» : v member for West Adelaide. He was ; .. chosen leader of the Parliamentary Labour partj- of South' Australia in 1897, and in 1899 received the portfolio of.' Minister for Education and Agriculture in the Holden Government, He resigned in 1901, to contest the Boothby seat m the Federal House of Representatives. Hβ was elected, -andi when Mr. Wateon. . formed his Ministry in 1906,' Mr. Batohe- . lor was made Minister for Home Affairs •■ No''member of the Labour party has had longer Ministerial experience than Mr : Batchelor. He is one of the moderates,': and is noted ; for his unruffled courtesy,', both in debate and outside the House.] .- ; Mr. Josiah Thomas Mr. Josiah Thomas, who was ?pst- - masteT-General .in the. ; Fisher Govern r . ; . ment, and who is among those already. , , returned, has represented "the Barrier —Broken Hill—ever: since the federation. . ■ He is one of the most' popular member?.; of the Labour party—a \hniuorpus Cor : : nishman, with a vein of biting satire for his opponents, fie was born 46 years -> ago. His father was a silver-minmg expert, and Mr. Thomas spent some years as a toy in Mexico,' where his : had charge of a big mining venture. Then, when still young, he came to Australia, and worked as a miner on Broken Hill He soon became a leading figure in the Amalgamated Miners' . Association, .< and was , president of .it when the great Barrier strike, occurred. He was: one-ot ■. the'directors of that strike, being a leading' member of the: strike ..defence n committee. For seven years-1894 to 1901 —he was a member of the New boutfl Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the constituency.of Alma.. Aβ has been. ~. stated, he was' elected to the -Federal ; House of Representatives for the Barrier in' 1901. , Mr. Thomas has a|waye. been one of the mpst'influential members ; of. the FedeTal Labour' party. "He did: not'pbtain office in the Watson Ministry, though he was one of the posab.hhes . mentioned as successor to Mr. J. C. Watson when . that ,! retired. from ■ the leadership of the party .J,.- .