FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18282, 18 December 1919, Page 10

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

NATIONALISTS LEADING. By Telegraph—Preoa Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, December 17. The latest returns show the following positions of parties:— Nationalists ■ . . 30 Labour . .22 Farmers . . .4 Nineteen seats are still doubtful. ' . UNUSUAL POSITION IN TASMANIA. (Received December 17, 9.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 17. Although several of the candidates have improved their positions, there is no actual alteration in the Federal Election figures. An uhußual state of affairs exists in Tasmania, where indications are that unless the unexpected happens, five House of Representative seals and four Senate vacancies will bo filled by Nationalists and members of the Farmers’ Party, leaving tliq Tasmanian Labour Party without representation, for the first time in its history. This is attributed to preferential voting, which in some quarters is regarded as unsatisfactory. The counting is practically exhausted, exoept absentee votes. A big decrease in the number of informal votqs is noticeable.