THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3947, 2 June 1913, Page 5

THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

NO RETURNS COMPLETE. DETAILS TOO MEAGRE FOR SPECULATION. MINISTERS. AND MR COOK APPARENTLY SAFE. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-COP?RIGHT.] (Received June 1, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 1. Though the weather yesterday was generally fine in New South Wales, bitter cold militated somewhat against the polling. In Victorian and Tasmania the wintry conditions were unfavorable to a good poll, though, on the whole, the voting was heavy. Up to midnight ,when counting was stopped, not a single electorate was completed, and the returns from many electorates—especially from other States—-were too meagre to speculate upon. It will be days before all the returns are complete. As for the Senate and the Referenda the returns are too small to tell any tale at all. On present appearances the Liberals appear likely to gain two, if not four seats in New South Wales, while Labor looks as if it will take the Ulawarra seat from the Liberals as a setoff in Victoria.

The latest figures indicate that Labor will probably win the F.awkner and Bendigo seats from the Liberals, and there is also a possibility of their gaining Ballarat. Should Bendigo go to Labor Sir John Quick, a notable old political campaigner, will disappear from the arena. Most of the Ministers and Mr Cook (leader of the Opposition) appear safe, though Mr Fisher (Premier) and Mr O’Malley (Minister for Internal Affairs) are fighting strong opponents. Great and enthusiastic crowds held their positions on seats in the vicinity of the newspaper offices watching the posting of the returns till an early hour this morning in spite of the hitter cold.

FORECAST OF THE VOTINC. HOW THE PARTIES ARE EXPECTED TO FARE. (Received June 2, 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 1. On present figures five Labor setts in New South Wales are threatened — Nepean, Calare, New England, Robertson and. Merriwa—and it_ is fairly certain that the Liberals will suffer a reverse Tor Illawarra, but even some of these positions are yet capable of much alteration. In Victoria two, if not three, Labor gains are pretty well assured, while Westralia promises one Labor gain. Tlie returns from the other • States are not complete enough to forecast upon. As far as the Senate figures have gone they show that Labor is holding its own.