WIN FOR STEVENS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 28 March 1938, Page 7

WIN FOR STEVENS

NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTION LITTLE CHANGE IN STATE OF PARTIES [United Preps Association—Bv Eleetrlo Telegraph—Copyright] SYDNEY. 27th March. No change of any significance was made in the New South Wales State general election yesterday. The Stevens Government keeps its big majority in Parliament. At the close of the counting of votes last night it was indicated that the state of the parties will be as follows, with that in the last Legislative Assembly in parentheses:— Government Parties 58 (59) Opposition Parties 29 (29) The party positions are as follows, with the figures in the last Legislative Assembly in parentheses:— United Australia 37 (37) United Country 21 .(22) Lang Labour 27 (29) Industrial Labour 2 ( —) Independent 1 (2) Doubtful 2 This means for the Government a political record, as it is its third general election victory and its fourth Parliament since the former Labour Premier, Mr J. T. Lang, was dismissed. MR LANG RETURNED Though the opponent of the Premier, Mr B. S. B. Stevens, in Croydon, had announced his retirement, nearly 5000 electors voted for him. The Premier hitherto has polled over 10,000 votes, however.

The leader of the Labour Opposition, Mr Lang, at Auburn, has a comfortable lead of 3000 over his Industrial Labour opponent, Mr J. Hooke. The Minister of Works and Local Government, Mr E. S. Spooner, whose defeat in Ryde seemed possible, has, with 10.715 votes, an absolute majority over both his onoonents. "REBEL" LABOUR LEADERS The Minister of Lands. Mr Sinclair, is being hard pressed by Mr E. Hogan (Labour) in Namoi. and at present has ' a lead of less than 100 votes. The Deputy-Premier. Mr M. F. Bruxner. at Tenterfield. has an absolute majority of over 2000 over his two opponents. The Labour "rebel" leaders. Mr R. J. Heffron and Mr C. C. Lazzarini. were re-elected, but their supporters failed to beat the Lang men. Mr Sheahftn. Labour candidate for Petersham, has a lead of 46 over the sitting United Australia Party member, Mr Solomon. The United Australia Party has lost the Granville seat, held by Mr Fleck, to Mr Lamb (Labour) by 1000 votes. Mr Shand, Assistant Minister, faced two other United Australia Party candidates and an Independent at Hornsby. He has a good lead at present and will probably win on the preferences. All the Ministers are expected to be returned. In most electorates there are several thousand votes yet to be counted and the allocation of preference may make a difference, but Mr Stevens expects to have at least 60 of the 90 seats. Labour circles express disappointment, particularly in regard to the country figures, which were expected to be much better. Mr Lang attributes Labour's inability to , win sufficient seats to take office to the extraordinarily short campaign. The first business session of the new Parliament will begin shortly after Easter. • SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ASSEMBLY United Prees Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copy rightl ADELAIDE. 26th March. It is now definite that the composition of the parties in the new Assembly will be: Liberal Country, 15; Independent 13; Labour 9: Independent Labour 2. REJECTION OF INDEPENDENTS (Received 28th March. 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. This Day. Further counting of the votes, which proceeded until an early hour this morning, did not materially alter the position. The probable state of the parties in the new Parliament will be: United 58 Labour 30 Independent 1 Doubtful 1 The United Australia Party regained the Woollahra seat which was held by an Independent, but lost the Granville seat to Labour. The result in Petersham is still doubtful. Mr Solomon, after the counting of postal votes, secured a lead of 96 over Mr Sheahan. The Minister of Lands. Mr Sinclair, is considered safe. He has increased his lead to 192. A feature of the election was the rejection of Independents. There was a record number of 32 candidates, but only one was successful. The "Herald” says it is expected that the faction fight in the Labour Party will become intensified as a result of Saturday’s poll. Industrialists may appeal to inter-State leaders to assist them in having Mr Lang removed from the leadership of the State Party. It is generally anticipated, however, that Mr Lang will be re-elected by the Parliamentary Labour caucus. The "Labour Daily." under the •dreamer heading, 'Lang again leads Labour to defeat.” says, “A feature of the election was the heavy poll for Independent candidates against the official U.A.P. candidates, indicating that while thousands of electors were dissatisfied with the Stevens Government (hey were not prepared to vote for Lang Labour.”