BRITISH COLUMBIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 9

BRITISH COLUMBIA

GENERAL ELECTION CONFUSED SITUATION SPLIT AMONG CONSERVATIVES SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTIES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 2, 5.5 p.m.) VICTORIA. Nov. T A general election wii'i lie held in British Columbia to-morrow for 41 seats of tho 47 in the Legislative Assembly. Polling for the other six scats has been postponed because of the death of Mr. W. J. Bowser, a candidate for Victoria City, which elects four members. Vancouver centre elects tho remaining two. The election follows two years of political confusion. In all there are 17-j candidates for the 41 seats, representing the Conservative Government of the Premier, Mr. S. F. Tolmie, Liberals, the Independent Non-partisan Party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the Independent Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the United Front, Labour, Socialists and Independents. The Conservative Party under Mr. Tolmie was elected by a large majority in JU2B. A year ago Mr. Tolmie tried to form a Coalition Government, but failed to secure substantial support from the Liberals or from dissatisfied Conservatives. Many Conservatives have joined the new Independent Non-partisan Party which favours a Coalition Government, but is opposed to the Tolmie Administration. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, commonly called the C.C.F., is a new political party which favours the gradual socialisation of finance and public utilities. Mr. Tolmie is running only 33 official supporters, but a large number of Independents hold themselves free to decide on affiliation after the election. Tho Premier says that after the election he will consult the members who favour a Coalition Government. The Conservative Party, as an organisation, is not officially represented this time, but four candidates are offering themselves as Conservatives in the postponed elections. Unless one party secures a majority over all the rest the composition of the next Government probably will be decided only after prolonged negotiation among the elected members. Mr. T. D. Patullo leads the Liberals who have maintained a solid front amid the general confusion. At the last general election in British Columbia, on July 17, 1928, the Liberals wero defeated in the greatest turnover of votes which had occurred in the province for 12 years. The final state of parties was: Conservatives . . . . 35 Liberals • • • • . . 12 Independent . . . . 1