FEDERAL ELECTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 262, 3 October 1940, Page 8

FEDERAL ELECTION.

SYDNEY, Oct. 1

The distribution of preferences in three of the six doubtful New' South Wales seats in the Federal Parliament has resulted in the defeat of the Government retiring candidate, Air J. Jennings, iu the AVatson electorate by the official Labour candidate, Air t>. Falstein, by 2400 votes; the official Labour candidate, Air J. B. Chifiey, has defeated the retiring Government candidate, Air J. N. Lawson, in the Alacquarie electorate by 8000 votes; and 'the official Labour man, Air C. Morgan, has defeated the retiring non-Communist Labour member, Air J. Gander, in the Reid constituency by 2341 votes.

Mr Gander was a member of the Beasley Labour non-Communist group and the vote thus reduces it to lour in the House of Representatives. The Robertson seat 'has been won by the Government supporter, Air E. Spooner, from the retiring Government candidate, Mr E. Gardner, by only 345 votes. Air Spooner was a Alinister in the former Stevens (New South AVales) Alinistrv.

The Hume seat is retained by the retiring Country Party member, Air T. Collins, whose majority over his nearest opponent, the Official Labour candidate, Air C. Nolan, is 920 votes.

Following a telephone conversation with Air J. Curtin (Leader of the Opposition) in Perth, Mr Alenzies announced that the conference of political party leaders called for Friday has been postponed till Monday, by when it is expected all the doubtful seats will be resolved and the true state ot the parties will be known.