LABOUR VICTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22107, 13 May 1935, Page 9

LABOUR VICTORY

QUEENSLAND RESULT MAJORITY INCREASED MAY HOLD 47 SLATS PREMIER'S GRATIFICATION By Telegraph Press Association—Copyright (Received May 12. 5.5 p.m.) BRISBANE. May 12 In the Queensland general election yesterday, the Labour Party, according to the count at midnight! already has gained six seats, or a total of 39, compared with 33 held in the former Parliament. Among the new seats won bv Lab our are the following three in the metropolitan area Sandgate, Mr. Logan, Wynnum, Mr. Windsor, and Baroona, Mr. Power. All gained easy victories. The following Ministers were returned unopposed:—Messrs. F. W. Bulcock (Barcoo), Minister of Agriculture, and E. M. Hanlon (Ithaca), Home Secretary. Mr. A. E. Moore. Leader of the Opposition, Mr. G. Pollock and Mr. W. Mullan (Carpentaria), Labour, were returned unopposed. One of the biggest surprises was the victory of Mr. Brown (Labour), over Mr. R. King at Logan. Mr. King was Deputy-Leader of the Opposition, and had held the seat for 15 years. The result of tha poll is hailed as a triumph for moderate Labour, which is likely to secure 45 seats. The remaining 17 may go to the Country and Progressive Nationalists. The Independents lost their one seat in the House.

Labour did not lose a single seat, and it is conservatively estimated that it will win 12 in all—possibly two more, which would give the Party a 47 to !5 majority. Although the Douglas Credit candidates polled better than in New South Wales they could not win a seat. The Communists polled very poorly, and the majority of them seem certain to lose their deposits. The Premier, Mr. Forgan Smith, after the election, stated that the victory would go down as one of the most outstanding in the annals of the State. The Government's large majority would enable it to proceed with the colossal, but not insuperable, task of restoring the State to its former prosperity. The Leader of the Opposition, MrMoore, said he could only accept the position with fortitude. " Though our numbers are depleted," he said, we represent a large section of the community, and we must endeavour, by our work, to win back confidence."