FEDERAL POLITICS.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3234, 7 May 1917, Page 2

FEDERAL POLITICS.

HUGHES PARTY LEADS

UOMISING FOR SENATE ALSO

IUV I'J.EOTIUO •nCLISaHAPH—OOI'VJIjaiIT.J (Press Association.) Sydney, May G. The weather was line lor tho Federal elections, and tho voting generally was solid. The figures were in no instance complete, when tho counting ceased at midnight, but sulliciently advanced, as far as tho House of .Kopresentativeg was concerned, to place a big Nationalist victory beyond all doubt. As for tho Senate, some days will havo to olapso before tho count will show anything liko finality, but the Nationalist bunches of three candidates in all tho States are leading with such margins as to make the Nationalist hope of winning tho required majority in the Upper .House most promising. Tho jxistal and soldiers' votes have still to he taken into account. There is a probability that soino'thing like a fortnight will elapse beforo the soldiers' vote is available. On tho present figures, a rough approximation of probables for the ri'ouso of Representatives is:— Nationalists •■ 47 P.L.L 22 Doubtful * C> Alt tho Ministers am apparently safe. Mr- Hughes' action in abandoning his old seat (West "Sydney) for Bcndigo was well judged. He is secure with a thumping majority, while Mr Cook is also having a runaway victory for Parramatta. Tho Political Labour League looks lik? capturing two or threo seats in Now South Wales, while Mr Tudor (tho P.L.L. leader) admits that three Labour scats in Victoria appear to have gone to tho Nationalists. Mr Tudor easily defeated his opponent at Yarra. ISrisbane, May 0. The State Upper Mouse abolition referendum is incomplete. So far as it, lias gone tho vote is strongly against abolition. Tho local option count has not snfP.riMitly progressed to show the position.