FEDERAL ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 87, 14 April 1910, Page 7

FEDERAL ELECTION.

» LABOUR'S SUCCESSES. EXCELLENT ORGANISATION. HARD FIGHTS. LABOUR PARTY JUBILANT. By Telegraph.— Pres* Aisociatkm.— Copyright. SYDNEY, 13th April. Although the returns for the Federal genera] election are very incomplete, there are indications of a Labour victory in New South Wales and Vie- ' toria. Mr. W. M. Hughe* (Labour) and Sir William Lyne (Independent member, voting with Labour) are both safe. At Ballarat Uie Prime Minister, Mr. Deakin, is having a hard battle. Mr. Russell (Labour) is leading him by 1000 votes in returns totalling 8000 votes. There are, however, 26,000 on the roll. Mr. Fuller, Minister for Home Affair*, has a »ufe lead for fllavrarra. Labour carried the day easily at Newcastle. Mr. Joseph Cook, Minister for Defence, is safe. The city count may take anything from a week to a fortnight to complete, if pa*t experience i* any guide. MELBOURNE, 13th April. There was a rainfall in the early part of the day, but polling proceeded steadily and quickly. There are indications of a heavy poll. VERY FEW RETURNS YET COMPLETE. KEEN" INTEREST 7n THE RESULT. cheerinTTcrowds. mr. deakin's position. (Received April 14, 8.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Very few returns, even of the metropolitan area, are yet complete. Though there is not a great deal of excitement, th? kecnect interest is being shown in the result. Last night cheering crowds blocked the streets in the vicinity of all the newspaper i offices — where the returns arc posted — waiting till an early hour in the morning. East Sydney (for which Sir George Reid, Australian High Commissioner, sat) has been captured by the Labour candidate, Mr. West,, who beat the Liberal by over -3000 votes. It looks as if Lang, another city division, has gone to the Labour candidate (Rev. T. S. Crawford), who is leading by 27, with a few small returns to come. In South Sydney, Mr. Riley (Labour) polled 12,599 votes against Mr. Eden George's 4400. * At West Sydney, Mr. W. M. Hughes, who took a prominent part in the late striko, goes back with nearly 8000 to the good. North Sydney has remained true to tne Government, the Liberal (Mr. Edwards), having a handsome majority, as also did the Parkes »nd Wentworth divisions, wheru Mr. Bruce Smith and Mr. W. H. Kelly have long leads. In the Dallcy division, Mr. Robert Howe (Labour), defeated Mr. Wilks. the old Liberal member, by over 3000 votes. Newcastle sent Mr. David Watkins, the old Labour member, back with ;i three to ono majority. In the Cook division of Sydney, Mr. J. H. Catts (Labour) holds his place, with a two to one majority. Labour polled very strong on the Barrier, Mr. Josiah Thomas (the old member), securing over 6000 supporters, and the Liberal (Mr. W. F. Shepherd), under 1000. Old Labour members— Mr. W. G. Spence for Darling, Mr. Thomas Brown for Calare, Mr. Wm. Webster for Gwydir, Mr. M. Charlton for Hunter, Mr. E. S. Carr for Macquarie, Mr. F. J. Foster for New England, Mr. J. M. Chanter for Riverina, and Mr. D. R. Hall for Werriwa— hold safe positions, and it looks as if Labour will also capture Robertson, where Mr. W. J. Johnson is leading by over a thousand. The Liberals nave every prospect of returning members fcr lllawarra, Nepean, and* Cowper. The returns for the other States are all very incomplete. IN VICTORIA. In Victoria the only complete returns are those for Melbourne Ports, where Mr. James Matthews, tho old Labour member, secured a thumping majority, and for Bourke, where Mr. Frank AnBtey (Labour) easily knocked out Mr. Humo Cook, the old Liberal member. In the ten of the twenty other seats, Labour if leading the Liberals in seven, and the Independents in three. The latest tigiires givo .Mr. Ueokin a lead of 507, and Sir John Quick (Post-master-General) 544. Mr. Maughcr's scat (Maribyrnong) is threatened. Mr. Wm. Knox, the old member (Government) for Kooyong, is safe. | TASMANIA. For five of the Tasmanian seats Labour ha* apparently a safe lead, for three the Liberals are leading safely, I and for one other the issue ie doubtful. WKBTRALIA. For the five Westralian seats it looks as if three will go to Labour and two to the Liberals. QUEENSLAND. In Queensland (nine seats) Labour if leading for six leati, and the Liberal* for three. Mr. L. E. Groom, Minister for External Affairs, is safe for Darling Downs, and Mr. Foxton (Ministerialist) for Brisbane. Mr. A. Fisher, Leader of the Labour party, is now 600 votes to the good for the Wide Bay seat. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. In South Australia (seven members), Mr. P. M. Glynn, Attorney-General, wa* returned for Angas. Labour is ahead in four of the other constituencies, <yid the Liberals in the remaining two. "LABOUR'S BRILLIANT VICTORY." SPLENDID ORGANISATION. "EVERYTHING "READY TO THE LAST GAITER." some liberalsTlept on their GUNS. (Received April 14, 10 a.nu SYDNEY, This Day. the Sydney Morning Herald heads its election report : — "Labour Party's Success." "Gains in all States." "A Working Majority in Both Houses." The Vmiiy Telegraph announces a brilliant victory for Labour. The Herald largely attributes Lnbotn's victory to tho splendid organisation. "It went into the fight with evci ything ready to the last gaiter button. Tho Labou'i voter took up his share of the burden with an easy oonfidtnet which was half

I they/aye v/ay to victory. As miv h could not I be said of tho Liberals, though organisation was carried much further titan in I any previous campaign. The polling shows that tho Liberals in numerous instances slept upon their guns." The Telegraph says : — "Whatever the final icsult, Labour is certain to substantially improve its position , while thnro is a fair possibility of its scoring an absolute majority in both Houses. If we sire to have a Labour Ministry it is better that we should havo a strong one." JUBIEATION. (Received April 14, 10.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Labour is jubilant at the results of -the election. THE MAIN ISSUES. DEALT WITH BY ENGLISH PRESS. A QUESTION~OF THE BEST METHODS. LONDON, 13th April. The newspapers deal prominently, and chiefly in an explanatory way, with the main issues of the Australian Federal election. Tho Times emphasises that the cleavj age is largely a question of the best methods, and hopes that, whatever the outcome of the election, it will promote that binding and peopling of the maturing Australian States in which the whole Empire ts evidently concerned. SENATE FIGURES. IN A BACKWARD STATE. (Received April 14, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Senate figures 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 and one Liberal hold the most prominent places, the Labour bunches have a lead. THE REFERENDUM. The referendum vote is still further behind. Small returns to hand give the "Noes" a majority on both issues — the Financial Agruement and transfer of the State Departments. SIR JOHN FORREST. VICTORIAN LIBERAL SEATS IN DANGER. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CORRECTED RETURNS. (Received April 14, 11.58 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Sir John Forrest is well ahead of the Labour candidate in the Swan electorate. The Victorian Liberal feats in danger include those of Mcstrs. Crouch, Carly, Salmon, Brown/and Robert Harper. With regard to the South Australian returns, a correction has to be made. Messrs. Glynn (Ministerialist), Poynton (Labour), and Archibald (Labour) "have been returned unopposed, Labour is leading in two of the other beats, and the Liberals in two. Mr. Batchelor's return is certain. THE LANG SEAT. (Received April 14, 1.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Liberal candidate has gone 101 votes ahead for tho Lang seat. There are a few returns still to come. PREPARATIONS FOR THE POLLING. Tho Sydney Daily Telegraph of the Bth instant otated ;— "Though the total number of electors em oiled in Ist-w South Wales alono stands at 634,712, something liko 6,360,000 ballot-papers will be iequired. In this respect the present election will be v record for this countiy. No fewer than tvielre different classes of \oting papers are provided. There are four kinds of "ordinary" — Senate, Home of Representatives, Financial Agreement, and State Debts— and similarly fovu- kincU of "absent voting" papers, and four kinds of "postal voting" papci^. There is » eet of voting papers lor every one of the 834,742 electors on the rolls, with a margin over 'for safety. In addition, there ate forms of declaration for electors outsido the «übdivi6ion in which they are enrolled, forms for absent and for postal voters, with special envelope^ covering tho sets of ballot papers. Upwards of 300,000 | forms havo already been distributed. There are other forms again relating lo the leferendums. Thcee, combined with rolls, ballot-papers, Act?, instructions, J stationery, returns, etc., make up a pro- j digious amount of printed matter which has to be prenarcd and circulated throughout the State. "Then there aro • the ballot-boxes for 1 New South Wales. These, to the number of 3150, have been specially made in Sydney for uso in thie election. They arc of Queensland hoop pine, painted a drab colour. During the week cartloads of them might bo seen leaving the Cus-tom-houeo precincts. Some started on their journeys to remote parts of the interior long ago, and until tho Electoral Officer learns of their fate arrival he is never free of anxiety. Some of these boxes encounter many changes en route to their deputations. Railway and river, camel and coach, assist in their transport, and should they miscarry — well, the Electoral Officer cannot bear to think of such a thing happening. "Polling nlicss throughout the State number 2000. In each caw? it is necessary to provide a building for use as a booth, and where an existing building cannot be conveniently obtained, a temporary structure has to be erected, and tompaitmenU fitted up so that elector*) may have privacy in registering their vot«». The polling booths demand a tinall army of official?. Upwards of 5000 will be eugaged on election day. These include uwistant returning emigre, presiding officer*, poll elerke, and doorkeepers. TOTAL ENROLMENT. The Chief Electoral Officer (Mr. R. C. Oldham) has received reports from each of the State officers showing the total enrolment in each State. l'het<e reports show that the woman electors are in the majority in Victoria only. The complete figures are as follow: — State Male* Females Total N.S. Wales 441,271 390,471 834.742 Victoria ... 346,050 357,649 703,699 Queensland 158,436 120,595 279,031 S. Australia 105,495 103,775 209,270 W. Australia- 80,908 53.895 134,803 Tasmania . . 52,133 46,213 £6,346 Totals 1,187,293 1,072,598 2,259,891 LABOUR'S EXPECTATIONS EXCEEDED. ("By Unionist.") After 18 years of steady, persistent organisation, after years of hacrhice by precent and past leaders in the several j States, Labour in Australia i, emerging triumphant fiom the bigfi-ept and most ! important political campaign e\or fought { in the country. In trade union circle?. ! everywhere — in England, in South Africa, j and in New Zealand — it was lecozipsed [ that Labour was fighting for political

control of a national LcKit-lature. and the proarosb of the election campaign has been keenly watched by Labour nipporters in those countries. Tho news of today's Labour victory will be leceived" with great lojokings. Not even the most .sanguine member of Mr. Fi.-her's Parly expected Labour to return with such increased representation though it wa.i admitted on all (.ides that Labour's following in th© now Houf« would be considerably in excess of that owing al legiance to Mr. Fisher in tho las.t Parliament. Tho figures cabled must in many instances be> a long way from com£lete, but already clearly show that n abour Ministry will depos* the present Commonwealth Fusion Cabinet. SENATE RESULTS. The Senate results are the most surprising, and if unalterod a« a conFcquence of additional counting will give Lsbour a quite unexpected representation in the new Senate. It was ncvei anticipated, for instance, that the Labour three in New South Wales would head the poll, on account of the candidate of Mr. John Norton, and three Socialist nominees. City $gurcs at present help to swell tho total of the Labour men in that State, but when the country votes are totalled, possibly the three retiring Liberals will displace them. }.EW SOUTH WALES REPRESENTATION. Labour had only 11 New South Wales representatives in the last Federal House. It will count on at least three or four additional members from that State, as a result of Wednesday's polling. Mr. Hughes's victory in West Sydney i 3 very remarkable. It is a complete refutation of the statements as to hi* management of the lato coal strike. According to tho cables, his majority has increased from 1000 last elections to nearly 8000, and with E. Holland. Socialist, in bitter opposition to him on this occasion. Other big Labour majorities are » equally surprising. The growth of the party's vote appears to be general all over the States MANY FACTORS. Many factors havo contributed to Labour's present position in the Australian political world. The eafc, clean, and stato?men-liko administration of the Fisher and Watson Ministries is perhaps the greatest factor. Fisher's Gympie speech in March last ycai, and the broad national policy therein disclosed also counted' considerably in Labour's favour. In addition there is tho splendid organisation behind the Labour-in-politics movement, backed up this time by such influential journals as the Bulletin and Melbourne Age.Ths Senate and fifher returns yet to come will bo awaited with even greater i nte re si, now that Labour's success is practically assuied. ROWDY MEETINGS. PRIME MINISTER'S RECEPTION. DENIED A~HEARING. During his campaign, Mr. Deakin tfiad to face some- lively meetings. At Bruns.wick last week he had a particularly •warm Teoeption. The din when Mr. Deakin arrived at- the hall waf, repoits tho Argus, deafening. First, there were cheers, and then from the reserve, which an indignant elector dubbed the "bearcage," catn.o hoots, phri«ks, groans, catcalls, wails, hpo-hoos, and cries of ."Judas," "Traitor," nnd "Loafer." A lady stood up near the fiont and shook an umbrella at Mr. Deakin. "You, you, you," she shrilled, but in her excitement the failed to find the- word. Wimm tho Primo Minister attempted to speak tho "beair-cago" outdid itself. "Ono, two, three, four, five, six, seven eight, nine, ten — OUT," ite occupants shrieked in a stentorian chorus. "I am not — " commenced Mr. Deakin. "One, two, three," came the chorus. "Going to—" "Four, five, six," from tho "bearcage." "Injure my voice — " ' 'Traitor, Judas,. Loafer," shrieked hundiedjs of voice*-. "Trying <o make myself heard." "Nine, ten, OUT," bawled the interjectors. For n while- the Prime Minister sought ito «end his voice to the whole of nift laudienoe, but tho strain of tho earlier •meeting was commencing to tell, nnd it was only a question of time before he would be- unable- to ppeak at all. To add to the din, against which he was trying to make himself heard, a section ii> the "bear-cage" commenced singing, •"For he'd a. blooming old loafer," to the tune of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." After making appeals for fair play and a 'hearing, Mr. Deakin contented himself with addre*sin,sr, thof© in his immediate vicinity. Regarding assertions that had ibeem. made that factory girls were to bo imported into Victoria, he eaid that the Commonwealth Government did not know anything ahout the proposal, had nothing to do with it, would' not accept it, and was utterly opposed to it. The cheers whicn greeted this statement urged the interjectors on to renewed effort*. With his voice rapidly failing, Mr. Deakin commended Mr. Humo Cook to the electors ac a worker who was 'best fittedi to be a rcpiwentativ.o of workers, nnd then, waving his hand cheerfully in the direction of those who had interrupted the meeting, he retired. For a couple of minutes Pander's Hall reaoimded to the most oar-splitting collection of noises imaginable. The meeting broke up phortly afterwards.