FACTS AND FORECASTS

Evening Post, Issue 119, 16 November 1925, Page 7

FACTS AND FORECASTS

LABOUR'S MISCALCULATIONS,

SYDNEY, 15th November.

On the latest figures, which leave the ] bulk of the returns far from complete, the indications are that so far as the House of Representatives is concerned the Bruce , Government will get back some'what stronger, if anything. The position is still, of course, capable of wide alteration. The Nationalist! are certain in twenty seats, the Country Party in three, and Labour in twelve, with further probabilities of the Nationalists gaining ten, the Country Party four,, and Labour seven. The Senate figures as yet are too incomplete to be a guide. It will be some days before the position can reliably be defined, but so far the Government appears to be well holding its own. ...... , The weather generally, was fine for the elections, arid the polling was exceptionally heavy. The old members mostly - polled well. A few seats, however, look like changing hands, The Government, on present figures, has apparently gained more seats than it has lost. Mr. Bruce is pleased 1 with the posi'tidn, and is optimistic of securing a majority in both Houses. Mr.,Cliarltorf (the Leader of the Labour Earty) sticks.!to , the opinion that Labour will win the Senate. , , Later. No returns are yet complete, and though a considerable number of seats are still in doubt, later figures (jo to indicate that Labour, in claiming that it could carry the House/ miscalculated the temper of the, electorate, and that in the vote generally there has been a swing towards saner government. On present appearances there will not be much change of the strength of parties in the new House. The old House consisted of fortysix Government supporters and twen-ty-nine Labourites. Preliminary forecasts of the new House give fortyseven to Government and twenty«ight to Labour. Messrs. Bruce, Charlton, - and Hughes were returned by swinging majorities. All the Ministers appear safe. Mr. Theodore, the former Premier of Queensland, won the Herbert, seat for Labour. This counter-bal-ances the Nationalist gain of Kennedy, a safe Labour seat, owing to the death A of the Labour candidate. The h^avy Nationalist vote for the House is regarded in the Nationalist camp as a good indication that -they will secure the necessary majority in the Senate. '