FEDERAL CABINET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 11

FEDERAL CABINET

MR. LYONS' TASK ACTION POSTPONED THE COUNTRY PARTY QUESTION OF INCLUSION COUNTING ELECTION VOTES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 20, 9.15 p.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 20 No steps are likely to be taken toward a reconstruction of the Commonwealth Ministry until the Prime Ministor, Mr. J. A. Lyons, has completed his fortnight's holiday at his home in Devon port, Tasmania. The new Cabinet will be announced after that and Parliament probably will reassemble on October 2M, the day after tho arrival of the Duke of Gloucester in Canberra.

There is a good deal of speculation as to whether Mr. Lyons will seek the Country Party's co-operation in the formation of his Ministry. It is stated that pressure is being brought to bear on him not to close the door entirely against that party. The counting of the primary, absentee and postal votes recorded at Saturday's Federal election poll is still proceeding. It, should be concluded bv Friday,

Jii tlio majority of the electorates throughout Australia the issue is already beyond doubt, but there are still three interesting contests in New South Wales, one in Queensland, one in Tasmania and one in Western Australia, which can be decided only by the distribution of second and third preferences. The United Australia Party already has 34 seats in sight, compared with 38 in the last House of Representatives, and is confident of winning at least one more. The Country Party Beems certain of 13 seats, Federal Labour of 17, and State Labour of eight or nine. The Labour Daily, on behalf of the Australian Labour Party in New South Wales, vigorously denies a statement published in the Sydney Morning Herald to the effect that the LangLabour group is seeking to obtain control of the Federal Labour machine.