DETAILED ANALYSIS

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 2

DETAILED ANALYSIS

OFFICIAL ELECTION COUNTS WHAT THE FIGURES SHOW NEW VOTING STRENGTHS Analysis of the votes cast at the recent General Election, based on the official count figures now completed, shows that the Reform and United Parties have suffered the loss of 120,309 votes which they commanded three years ago, chiefly at the expense of the United Party, which dropped 80,962 votes, while Labour gained in strength by 47,292 votes. The aggregate vote for candidates standing in support of other parties opposed to the Government was also considerably increased. The total votes polled in the seventysix electoral districts in which contests took place, based on the official count figures, are shown in the following table, the number of candidates in the various party interests being shown in parentheses ;

ELECTORAL REGISTRATIONS. The total number of registered electors for the 1931 General Election was 873,723, as compared with 848,237 in 1928. The percentage of valid votes cast at the recent election was 82.6 per cent., as compared with 87 per cent, at the 1928 General Election. Allowance must bo made, however, for the fact that in four electoral districts no contests were held this year, thus accounting for some 36,253 voters who were not called on to vote. Assuming that all these voters would have gone to the poll, tho percentage of votes cast would have been about i per cent, less than in 1928.• ELECTED CANDIDATES. The voting power behind tho candidates actually elected to represent the seventy-six electorates in which contests were held is shown in tho following table, which also shows the number, of elected candidates under tho various party banners: —

Total valid votes and total elected 395.346 (76) OTHER POLLS COMPARED. The following analysis affords a comparison. between tho total votes cast for all candidates standing in support of tho various parties at the last three General Elections. Consideration must be had, however, for the fact that whereas in 1925 and 1928 there' were definite three-cornered contests between three parties, each seeking to gain control of the Government benches, this year the Reform and United Parties sought a mandate as a combined party: —

Tho allocation to “ others ” in 1931 includes 38,135 votes cast for candidates who had declared their intention of supporting tho Coalition Government. In relation to the above table, it is interesting to compare tho strengths of the various parties in the new Parliament, measured according to tho votes cast for elected candidates, with those after tho 1928 General Election;—

PARTY FORTUNES. Tiie fortunes of tlio various parties at tlio last four general elections, in point of numbers of candidates put up and returned (including those elected unopposed), are briefly illustrated in the folhvoing summary:—

PERCENTAGE ANA LYSES. .More detailed analyses of the election figures bring, out the following facts: — Tho Coalition (plus supporters), with 47 per cent, of tho candidates in tho field, secured 58.7 per cent, of the seats in tho House. The total Coalition vote was 53.6 per cent, of tho total votes cast. Tho 47 elected candidates polled 57.4 per cent, of the votes cast in support of all elected candidates. Four other Coalition candidates, were returned unopposed. Labour, with 44.4 per cent, of the candidates in the field, secured 30 per cent, of tho seats in the House. Tho total Labour vote was 34.3 per cent, of tho total votes cast. The darted candidates polled 36.5 per cent, of the votes cast in support of elected candidates. The Reform Party put up 34 (or 51.5 per cent.) of the 66 officially-en-dorsed Coalition candidates, and was 76.4 per cent, successful, securing tho return of 26. The United Party put lip 28 official Coalition candidates, and 16 of them, or 57 per cent., wore elected.™ Reform has the support of 37.5 per cent, of the members in the new House, United 25 per cent.. Labour 30 per cent., and tho Independent group and Country Party 5 per cent.

Government — Coalition Reform lb!),369 (34) Coalition United 120,757 (28) Coalition Indpts. ll,74o (4) 321,871 Other Coalitionists — Ind, Reform ... 38,741 (id) Ind. United ... 23,347 (10) Ind. Coalitionists 3,013 (3) 65,131 387,002 Opposition— Labour 245,6/5 (o4) Ind. Labour ... 2,580 (2) 248,255 Independents ,47,071 (28) Country Party 16,710 (6) . Others 22,794 (13) Total valid votes and total candidaturo 721,833 (195)

Government — Coalition Reform 1 ill,709 26) Coalition United 76,.‘177 (16) Coalition Indpdt. 3,554 (1) - 208,640 Other Coalitionists — Jnd. Reform ... 9,293 (2) Incl. United ... 9,188 (2) 18,481 227,121 Opposition— Labour ... ... 144,536 (24) 144,536 Independents 13,978 (3) Country Party 4,970 (1) Others 4,741 a)

1925. ■ 1928. 1931. Reform 908,413 267,457 ( 228,110 United *133,453 225,066 '(144,104 Labour 181,067 198,383 245,675 Others .. . 31,922 46,185 103,943 654,855 737,091 721,832

1928. 1931. Ucfonn .. 116,232 , 141,002 1 82,565 United .. 138,352 Labour .. 103,314 144,536 27,243 Others 25,422

1922. 1925. 1928. 1931. Reform— Contested 73 68 71 60 Won ... ... 39 55 29 30 United (or Nationalist) — Contested 46 46 55 39 Won ... , ... 19 11 31 20 Labour— Contested 43 56 65 54 Won ... . ... 17 13 19 24