VICTORY FOR SANE GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3038, 27 March 1917, Page 6

VICTORY FOR SANE GOVERNMENT

NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS LATEST RETURNS ■ > By Telcerraph-PrcSR Associatj/m-CopyriKht Sydney, March 26. Tho election aroused keen interest in the'other States, and' the result is accepted as an indicator of the forthcoming Commonwealth struggle. The "Sydnety Morning Herald" gives the state of parties thus: — • Nationalist .'. 49 - Political Labour League ... 30 , Uncertain 11 The "Daily Telegraph" puts the strength of parties as: — . , Nationalist 47 > Political Labour League ... 33 Independent 1 Doubtful » 1 and a second ballot for eight seats. The "Herald," in a leader, says 1 :— "The victory of the Nationalists is a victory for sano government on well-' ordered and progressive lines.' It is evidence that;while tho State is thoroughly democratic in. thought, it aiihors extremists on either side, and has .no confidence in men who would destroy its institutions' and out of the ruins seek to erect an anarchic State. Though direct Labour', has increased the number of/supporters' which it had after the recent oonscription split came, the result of the election puts tho Political Labour League back to where it stood ten years ago, at the beginning of its labours. The feature of the voting was that all the second ballot victories of tho ■ Labour Party in the Metropolis in 19.10 were turned: round upon them. Of tho old Liberal Party, Mr. T. Waddell was the only one to'suffer defeat, but the 'Nationalist section of tho old Labour Party suffered considerably, losing nine seats to 'the Political .Labour League." / ■ ' ' ' ■ 1

The "Daily Telegraph" says:—"Tlio' State has'reason.to congratulate itself, on securing a sane and stable Government free from a secret taskmaster in the shape of a caucus." The latest figures' leave the position •unaltered. All the Ministers are safe. Mr. Storey says ho is not exactly satisfied with the results. He thought tho party would have-done consi3erably better. . • , ' The Hon. J. Meagher attributes his defeat largely to',the foetid and venomous sectarian issue..' MR. HUCHES'S COMMENT. - (Rcc. March 26, 9.45 p.m.) : SydneJ, March 26. ,Mr.- W.'M; (the Federal Prime Minister), commenting on the election, sajd that the Caucus Party had suffered a wholesome defeat. _lt had been living'\in .a fool's paradise since the referendum. , The light of day had pierced the mist, through which they , imagined; they saw'.the Promised Landj and they now found themselves a hopelessly discredited party. ._' '; Kahibah, which yesterday 'was included' in the wins, is still in doubt. A second/ballot will be required. There is a.possibilit'y that Mr. Edden, the Labour Nationalist, will retain his seat with the absentee vote still to count, and there is a bare possibility that Mr. Waddell has not been ousted from the Lydhurst seat.

THE FEDERAL' ELECTION BATTLE , LABOUR MANIFESTO. Melbourne, \Marcli 26. The Australian Labour Party, in a manifesto, says: The party l will tinue under the voluntary system to secure every man fit for the front. If returned it will instruct the censors to relax their irritating grip of the Press.: Money will be lent without Interest to returned soldiers wishing to go on the land oi' engage in business. The tariff will be revised to give ade-. quate protection to Australian manufacturers. There will be no tax on wealth for.'any purpose'. jWar profits will be taxed on the basis of 50, per cent, on the excess profits for the yoar 1915, . 60 per' cent, for the year 1916, and 100' per cent! thereafter for the duration of the war. , 1