FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 9

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

CABINET DEVELOPMENTS COUNTRY PARTY HOT TO BE REPRESENTED Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. MELBOURNE, December 30. What is regarded as a surprising development is that the United Country Party has declined office in the new Federal Cabinet which is now being formed by Mr Lyons. Dr Page, Leader of the Country Party, had a conference with Mr Lyons to-day, and indicated that his party would be satisfied if it was given the Customs portfolio, as it was extremely anxious for tariff revision.

jyfr Lyons replied that he was unable to agree, whereupon Dr Page assured him that the Country Party would continue its friendly relations with the .United Australia Party but would accept no Cabinet responsibility. Mr Lyons expressed regret at the turn of events and said he was most anxious that the Country Party should accept office, having regard to the arrangement on which the election was fought. MR FENTON RETURNED MELBOURNE, December 30. Mr J. E. Fenton, a former Minister of Customs, who, with Mr Lyons, resigned from the Scullin Ministry, has been returned for the Marifayrong constituency after a neck and neck struggle with a rival Labour opponent, Mr Beckett, by the narrow majority of 417. Another Labour stalwart, Mr Anstey, who has always hitherto won by a large majority, retained the Bourke seat by a very slender margin.

THE LANG SEAT UNITED CANDIDATE LEADING. SYDNEY, December 31. [(Received December 31, at 10 a.m.) Tho allocation of preferences in the Lang seat is not yet complete, but the United candidate, Mr Dein, now leads the Lang Planner, Mr Mulcahy, by 2,758, Mr Dein is expected to secure a majority of the outstanding votes. It is understood that tho Trades Hall may question the Cook result, where Mr Garden was narrowly beaten, on the ground that about 8,000 votes, believed to have been cast by women who, for religious reasons, declined to place a number opposite the Communist’s name, were rejected. As Mr Garden lost by 713 votes it is contended that there should be the closest scrutiny before the poll is declared.