FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 17226, 16 December 1919, Page 6

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

NATIONALIST MAJORITY. STRONGEST FOB SENATE. Press Association—Bv Telegraph—Copyrirtt Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDMEIY, December 15. Returns are slowly dribbling in without altering the position much so far. If present indications are fulfilled the Nationalists stand to lose to the Labor Party four seats —three in South Australia and one in Queensland-—and to the Farmers' Partv twd seats in New South Wales 5 while the Farmers' Party win one seat from Labor in West Australia. The latest summary of the election returns shows that 23 Nationalists have ben elected and 10 are in leading positions ; three Farmers' candidates have been elected and five are leading in the elections which they are contesting; 14 Laborites bave been elected and 20 are leading. A feature of the elections'is the apparent heavy defeat of the Nationalist Laboritea who left tho Labor Party three vears ago to support Cbnscription. They include, unless the later returns cause a swing-back, the following prominent men:—Mr W. Webster, Postmaster-General (Gwydir).Mr W. O. Archibald (Hindmarsh), and Senator Russell (Vice-president of the Executive Council). Another prominent man who appears to be doomed is Mr Bruce Smith. K.C. (Partes). Mr Poynton has secured a slight majority over the Labor candidate a 7' tor tte Gr8 F (South Australia), and his return is regarded as almost certain. December 16. The latest election returns for the House of Representatives show: Nationalist 31, Labor 22, Farmers 3. The doubtful seats total 19, the probable results for these being: Nationalist 9, Labor 5, Farmers 5. [This would give Nationalists 40, Labor 27, Farmers 8, as against 40, 23, and 3 respectively in the late Hou??.] THE SENATE. The Senate voting now shows ill© possibility of the whole 18 vacancies Deinff filled by Nationalists. (Half of the 36 Senators retire in turn.) THE REFERENDA. In the referenda on Commonwealth rights extension and control of monopolies the " No" vote is still leading, except in Victoria and Queensland, where "Yes" is leading on both questions-, and in Western. Australia, where " Yes " is leading on thai monopolies vote.