’FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 48, 20 November 1928, Page 11

’FEDERAL ELECTIONS

GOVERNMENT’S POSITION IMPROVED WORKING MAJORITY OF NINE OR TEN PROBABLE PRESENT STRENGTH OF PARTIES The Federal Government’s position has been improved by later election returns, and it is expected that it will have a clear working majority in the House of Representatives of nine or ten. (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Sydney, November 19. The election position remains undecided in several seats, though the Ministry is assured of a working majoiitj. The “Sydney Morning Herald” places the present state of parties as. Nationalists ’ Country’ Party Progressive Country Party 1 Labour Doubtful 1 Labour appears certain to carry tlie Senate seats in New South Wales and South Australia, and possibly in 5 mThe total of the votes counted so far is 2.202.105, of which Labour received 1,127.088 and the Nationalists 1,074,417. While the Labour leaders regard the poll as disclosing that the people are tired of Mr. Bruce’s Government, Nationalist spokesmen are reticent, awaiting the final results, which will not be known for a couple of days. Tlie referendum shows a three-to-one approval of the Government’s proposal for tlie transference of State _ debts to the Commonwealth and financial adjustments. (Rec. November 19, 9.40 p.m.)

Sydney, November 19. Fresh returns from tlie majority of the electorates improve the Government’s position, as was anticipated, large parcels of votes from the country’ centres having in tlie main gone either in favour of the Nationalist or the Country Party nominee, and more clearly defining tlie position of doubtful candidates. Labour has to date won seven seats in the House of Representatives, three of which are in New South Wales, but it is improbable that they will win more than a couple more. Mr. Bruce should have a clear working majority of nine or ten. Tlie numerical position of the parties in tlie last Parliament were. AntiLabour 52, Labour 23. The figures at present are: —

Anti-Labour 41 Labour 30 Doubtful 4

Tlie latest returns for the Senate show that Labour is in the ascendency in three States, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is practically’ certain that, all three Senate seats for New South Wales will go to Labour. The strength of parties before tlie election in the Senate were: Anti-Labour, 27; Labour, 9.

MR. BRUCE GRATIFIED

AT GOVERNMENT’S MAJORITY

(Rec. November 19, 10.40 p.m.) Sydney, November 19.

Two defeated candidates in New South Wales are Sir Elliott Johnson, the former Speaker in the House of Representatives, and Mr. A. G. Manning, the Government Whip. All the Ministers have been returned.

Mr. Bruce expresses gratification at the Government’s return with “a substantial majority.” He added that it was inevitable that some seats should be lost, because at the 1925 elections tlie Government had been returned with the biggest majority in the history of the Federal Parliament. With the swing of the pendulum a few Labour seats had reverted to that party, which was not unexpected.

Mr. Bavin (Premier of New South Wales) commented that the outstanding feature of the elections had been that Labour had been emphatically defeated. “I do not think that anybody expected the results of the 1925 elections to be repeated on this occasion,” he said.

MR. BRUCE’S DISADVANTAGE

NECESSITY FOR THRIFTY POLICY

COMMENT OF LONDON PAPER

(Australian Press Association.) (Rec. November 19, 7.15 p.m.)

London, November 19.

The “Daily Telegraph” says: “It is apparent that Mr. Bruce retains office by a sufficient majority. The unhappy shipping and waterside disputes which led to much rioting and some bloodshed undoubtedly intensified the feeling on both sides. Labour had mobilised all its forces to punish Mr. Bruce for intervening in the strike. Though Labour gained a few seats, it failed in its purpose. Mr. Bruce from an electoral standpoint was at a disadvantage. He is conscious that Australia needs to reduce her expenditure and moderate her zeal for more or less experimental social reforms. Therefore lie insisted on tlie necessity for a sober and thrifty policy of government which offers the electors nothing new -nd necessarily places him at a disadvantage in such an advanced democracy as Australia.

Mr. Scullin, on the other hand, had a long series of superficially attractive proposals designed to catch the workmen's votes, but the majority of the electors refust <’ to be enipted by Mr. Seullin's picture of a self-dependent Australia keeping overseas goods and immigrants out and making the rest of the world pay what Australia chooses to ask for her produce. The Nationalists and Country Party wisely decitied to continue their co-operation. Dr. Earle Page will derive satisfaction from the electors' approval of his proposal I Im. the Commonwealth Government be .uthorised to negotiate with the States for the taking over of

their debts, whereby the credit of Australia will undoubtedly be strengthened."

THE “DAILY HERALD” VIEW

(Australian Press Association.)

London, November IS.

The “Daily Herald” says: "While Mr. Bruce is unfortunately not removed. Labour should be able to curb bis reactionary anti-Labour activities. It is heartening that our comrades downunder are in a winning vein, but the mere winning of seats Is not sufficient. They must have a majority.”