MINISTERS LOSE SEATS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 262, 3 October 1940, Page 7

MINISTERS LOSE SEATS.

ELECTION DEADLOCK LIKELY. 'AUSTRALIAN PROSPECTS. SYDNEY, Oct. 2. The defeat of two Country Party Ministers, the Postmaster-General (Mill. V. Thorby) and the Minister for Territories (Mr 11. Nock), was announced. to-day, following the completion of the election counts in. Calare, and Iliveriua, both New South Wales constituencies. Both are lost to Labour candidates, Mr Thorby’s seat by 3236 votes and Mr Nock's by 1465 votes. Mr Nock’s defeat was a shock to the Government supporters, who considered that he had every chance of success. The Government received a further setback by the loss of the Wan non seat (Victoria), where the retiring United Australia Party candidate (Mr T. Schofield) was defeated by the official Labour candidate (Mr D. McLeod), whose majority was 4737. . Official Labour has also retained the Ballarat seat, which the Government expected to win from Mr R. Pollard, whose majority was only 281. The position now is that Labour has won 35 seats ' and the Government parties 34. The Independents have two, while three still, remain in doubt. One of these may go to the Government, one to Labpur, and the third either to the United Australia Party candidate or an Independent. There are indications that the Gqvernment and Labour parties will finish equal with 36 seats each, with two Independents holding the balance of power. • ~r , One Independent, Mr A. W. Coles, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, who won the Henty seat, formerly held by the late Sir Henry Gullett, is expected to vote with the Government, but the other. Mr Alex Wilson, who stood in Wimmera as an Independent Country Party candidate, is regarded as a doubtful quantity, having in the past frequently voted with Labour. All three party whips were beaten at the election, namely. Mr J. Gander. Official Labour. Mr S. Gardner, United Australia Party, and Mr 11. < Nock, Country Party.