AUSTRALIAN ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN ELECTION.

CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

MOST BITTER ON RECORD.

BATTLE FOR NORTH SYDNEY.

HUGHES' HARDEST FIGHT.

(Received October 11, 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 11

The Federal election campaign, which is described as having been one of the most bitter on record, closed this evening to tho accompaniment of noise and frenzy. The roar of the political battle was heard most loudly in North Sydney where Mr. W. 51. Ifughes has fought the hardest campaign of his career, and at Wentworth whero Ml'. W. M. Marks has been fighting strenuously. Sir Littleton Groom, Speaker of the late House of Representatives, is expected to have a close call at Darling Downs, Queensland. Mr. G. A. Maxwell, however, is regarded as safe for reelection at' Fawkner, Victoria. Mr. Bruce, Leader of the Nationalist Party, and Mr. J. H, Scullin, Leader of the Labour Party, expect to. secure working majorities. A section of the press, however, expresses'the opinion that neither party will achieve a decent majority and that probably tho election will culminate in a stalemate. The belief is expressed that if Mr. Bruce loses ground at all it will be in Now South Wales and Tasmania. Polling will take place to-morrow from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m.

Mr. W. M. Hughes, who is standing as an Independent Nationalist, is being opposed in Nort.li Sydney by Dr. L. W. Nott, official Nationalist candidate, Mr. C. G. Banks (Independent Labour) and Mr. E. E. Judd (Socialist). Dr. Nott achieved fame in 1925 and caused a political sensation by defeating Mr. E. G. Theodore,, ex-Premier of Queensland for tho Herbert seat, which was then regarded as a Labour stronghold. At the fast election, after a very close fight, Dr. Nott was narrowly defeated by Mr. Martens, the official Labour candidate, and he settled at Canberra, where he has since practised his profession. He is regarded! as a brilliant platform speaker and a strong political fighter. Messrs. W. M. Marks, G. A. Maxwell, E< A. Mann and P. G. Stewart voted against the Bruce-Page Government on Mr. Hughes' amendment, which forced its resignation. Sir Littleton Groom was adversely criticised by the Nationalists for not voting on that vital occasion. All five are standing as Independents and each is opposed by an official Nationalist condidate.

As the system of preferential voting is used in Federal elections the final result of to-day's polling—which is for the House of Representatives and not for the Senate—will not be known for a few days. The following members of the late House of Representatives have been reelected unopposed : —The Federal Treasurer, Dr. Earlo Page, the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. J. H. Scullin, Messrs. J. H. Prowse and H. Gregory, of Western Australia, both Country Party members, and five Labour members: Messrs. R. James (Hunter, New South Wales),'. D. Watkins (Newcastle, New South Wales), J. Mathews (Melbourne Ports, Victoria), N. J. 0. Makin. (Hindmarsh, South Australia), and Dr. Maloney (Melbourne, Victoria). The state of parties in the last Federal House of Representatives after tho general election of November, 1928 (75 seats), was as follows:

NationConn Laalists. try P. bour New South Wales . 30 4 14 .Victoria . 8 4 8 Queensland . . . 6 2 2 South Australia . 2 0 5 Tasmania . 3 1 1 "Western Australia . 1 2 2 30 13 32