SOME SURPRISES

Evening Post, Issue 67, 17 September 1934, Page 9

SOME SURPRISES

IX NEW SOUTH WALES

LANG LABOUR'S GAINS

(Received September 17, 11 a.m.)

SYDNEY, This Day.

Tlio surprise o£ the latest count is the reversal of Mr. T. D. Mutch's lead in Werriwa. On the figures it now appears that the seat will go to Mr. H. P. Lazzarini, State Labour. It was at first thought that Mr. Mutch, former State Minister of Education in the Lang regime, would win a notable victory for the United Australia Party in New South Wales. Werriwa last election was won by the Country Party.

A feature of the polling in New South Wales, where most changes are occurring, is that State Labour, led by Mr. J. Beasley, very nearly .ousted Federal Labour candidates, but the LangBeasley influence was not noticeable in any other States.

Tho extent to which the Federal ] Labour vote slipped in New South Wales is best indicated by tho. heavy primary vote recorded for Mr. J. S. Garden, secretary of the Sydney Trades and Labour Council, over, Mr E. C. i Biley, the former at present having more than a two to one majority. Mr. Garden has made previous unsuccessful | attempts to obtain a sent in Parliament. On this occasion ho has vanquished a difficult opponent, as Mr. Riloy's father had hitherto held the Cook seat for many years and had a strong personal following. POSITION IN VICTORIA. Tho position in Victoria is not less interesting, though there were no sur--1 prises. Mr. R. G. Menzies, who will probably succeed Mr. J. G. Latham as j Federal Attorney-General, obtained a heavy majority at Kooyong, while! Messrs. Maurice Blackburn and Prank I Brennan have retrieved the Bourke and Batman seats for Federal Labour. Mr. Blackburn retired from the Speakership of the Victorian Assembly to contest the Bourke seat. Maribyrnoug has rejected Mr. J. E. Fenton, veteran ex-Labour member, who, with Mr. Lyons, broke away from the Scul- j lin Administration and led to its down- j fall. Mr. Fenton allied himself with j the United Australia Party last elee*! tion and just managed to win, but on this occasion will bo narrowly beaten by Mr. A. S. Drakeford (Federal Labour).

Tho Postmaster-General, Mr. A. Pnrkhill, has tho hug.; majority of IS,OOO, the Minister of Commerce, Mr. V. M. Stewart, mi absolute majority of 12,000, and Mr. W. M. Hughes an iibsolnto ( nmjom\; of 4.000. These Jsgur.es tiro^

: lypu-.nl of tlic strength of tho United ' i Australia Party {tolling in many electorates. Tho Country Party, however, : lisim not done quite so well. Reports from tho smaller States indicate that there will bo only trifling changes in tho party's representation, and those will probably not exceed three new faces. , MINISTERS' SUCCESS. Tho whole of the Ministers, with the possible exception of. Mr. J. A. Guy, Assistant Minister of Customs, will be returned. Mr. Guy's position is usually in doubt until the last minute owing to the fact that preferences invariably have to decide the issue. So fur primary votes alone have been counted in the various States, and. the position of doubtful seats will not be known iv somo instances until the cad of next week. Although in no instance did. Douglas Credit candidates come within striking distance of success, they polled surprisingly well in somo electorates, and their loaders, much encouraged, declare that this will stimulate them to greater action. The distribution of their candidates' preferences will have an important bearing in doubtful contests. New members so far include the following:— . Victoria, Messrs. M. Blackburn, P. Brennan, A. Drakeford (Federal Labour), K. G. Menzies (United Australia); New South Wales, Messrs. T. Mutch, W. McCall (United Australia), J. Garden, D. Mulcahy (State Labour); Queensland, Mr. D. Watson (Federal Labour); West Australia, Mr. J. Curtain (Federal Labour).

Doubtful seats arc Calaro and. Darling in Now South Wales, Adelaide in South Australia, and Franklin and Bass in Tasmania. »

j Owing to tho smallness of the returns] and the large number of candidates in j the field for the Senate, it will not bo possible to indicate the, outcome of this election for several days, although hero again tho Government forces are making a strong showing. OPINION OF LEADERS. Mr. IT. Hoi'scfioldj secretary of the United Australia Party in Sydney, described the outcome as a political miracle, lie would not be in the least surprised if the party won 37. seats. Whatever ground was lost in Now South Wales was due solely to the redistribution of boundaries. . The Premier of New South Wales (Mr. B. S. B. Stevens) regards the poll as the best test possible of the veal political conscience of Australian 'electors at the present moment. The result was most gratifying.

Mr. J. T. Lang, Leader of tho Stato Opposition, is extremely pleased that the State Labour candidates havo done so well /in New South Wales, -which, convinces him that his party should triumph at the forthcoming Stato elections.