HEAVY POLLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 152, 13 June 1932, Page 8

HEAVY POLLING

UNEXPECTED DEFEATS THE COUNTRY ELECTORATES. “UTTER ROUT OF LABOUR.” Syriney, June 12. Seats which were Hitherto regarded as impregnable Labour strongholds rejected Lang candidates in one of the heaviest polls on record. Labour virtuallv has been expelled from representation in the country. Mr Stevens, had a comfortable win at Croydon, where ho was opposed by- a Labour stalwart, Mr Eldridge, a former Federal member, of tho Beasley group. High hopes were entertained at Labour headquarters of unseatin'’ Mr Stevens, who, however, won tiv 6350. The former Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bavin, received a handsome majority at Gordon, 12,667. The Country Party Leader and deputy Premier, Mr M. Bruxner, was returned unopposed. Some of the Metropolitan seats won by Labour at the last election by narrow margins have been retrieved by United candidates with substantial majorities. Tho Bondi seat is a case m point, Mr Thomas (United) has an absolute majority of 4347 over the retiring Langite, Mr Lands. Another instance is North Sydney, where Mr Primrose, Mayor of the Municipality, ousted the Langite. Mr Howe, by nearly 2000

The Drummoyne seat has been won back by Mr Lee (United) from the Langite, Mr McLolland. Georges River was recovered from Labour by Mr Monro (United) bv over 2000. The Randwick contest, in which there was a tot of interest, has reverted to the Uniteds, whose nominee, Mr Moverley, practically an unknown man, defeated tho Langite. Mr Flanagan, by 780. UNBEATABLE? UNSEATED. Ryde has given United another seat. Mr Spooner, who is also a new man in politics, triumphed there over the retiring Labourite, Mr 11. A. Davies, by 4443, with preferences still undistributed. A similar state of things occurred at Waverley, Concord and Hurstville, where tho retiring Labourites appeared to be unbeatable.

The defeat at Kogarah of Mr Gosling, former Chief Secretary, who reintroduced tin hares and fruit machines, was not generally anticipated and created considerable comment. His chief opponent, Mr J. C. Ross. (United) has at present a lead of 1346. and when the preferences of tho Federal Labourite arc distributed is expected that My Gosling will go down by over 2000. The Petersham result, where tho Attorney-General, Mr Lamaro. is well behind the nearest opponent). Mr Solomon (United), created a surprise in Labour circles, since Mr Lamaro was believed to be one of the strong men in Mr Lang’s team. He played a rather unpopular part after the Governor’s dismissal of Mr Lang, and by his adverse comment on judicial decisions incurred the displeasure of the legal fraternity. DEBACLE IN THE COUNTRY. The story concerning ttie country electorates is summed up in tho words “utter rout of Labour.” Quito a number of Labour men who enjoyed personal popularity and wore ordinarily difficult to unseat paid the penalty of their servility to Langism so-called and the spoils of ths victory have gone tn the United parties.

As their leaders prognosticated, the Country Party, who were given rather an open field, have profited to the tune of nine seats and only a couple of seats remain in doubt.

Ono of these is Bathurst, where the sitting Langite, Mr Kelly, is having the closest contest with a Unity candidate, Mr Wilkins. The odds favour the latter. Bathurst is a large railwaymen’s centre.

The Maitland scat, hitherto a Labour stronghold, has been lost bv a Langite, Mr G ’Hearn.

Che adjoining seat, Upper Hunter, has been wrested from Labour in a most decisive manner. Mr Lang’s Minister of Lands, Mr Tully, who has the strong Goulburn railway centre, has suffered defeat by over 1000. All the Riverina seats, hitherto held by jj’ibcur, have icon won l.y either United or Count '" nominees.

According to over night, rc’urns, Labour seems to have lost 16 seats In the city and 14 in the country,

which wholly exceeded, expectations. The doubtful seats are Canterbury and Illawarra. DEFEATED LABOUR MEMBERS. Retiring Labour members definitely defeated are:— Metropolitan area: Messrs Butler, Byino, Cahill, Clemcntson, Connors, E. Davies, Ely, Flanagan, Gosling, Howe, Kinsella, Lamaro, Lands, McDicken arid McLelland. Country: Messrs Clarke, Donovan, Dunn, Fitzgerald, Flannery, Bolster, Hoad, Koast, Martin, McLelland, O'.Hearn, Scully and Tully,