QUEBEC'S VOTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 9

QUEBEC'S VOTE

GOVERNMENT RGUT CANADA IN WAR MEASURES APPROVED LANDSLIDE TO LIBERALS By Teletrraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 20, 7 p.m.) MONTREAL, Oct. 25 As the result of the general election in the province of Quebec, the Government (Union Xationale Party) has been heavily defeated and the Liberals have been returned to power. The new state of the parties is:— Liberal . . . . . . ... 68 Union Xationale . . • . 1 ; > National 1 Independent 1 Deferred 1 Although the Premier, Mr. Maurice Duplossis was elected, six members of bis Cabinet were defeated. The former Premier, Mr. J. A. Godbout. returns to the premiership.

Mr. Dnplessis' party has conceded a Liberal victory. The Federal Minister of .Justice, Mr. Ernest Lapoinle, in a statement thanked the voters and said he was remaining at his post, which Jic threatened to vacate if Mr. Dnplessis was returned to power. The outstanding questions at issue in the election were Canada's participation in the war, conscription and provincial autonomy. In announcing the election, Mr. Dnplessis alleged that, the Federal war legislation threatened Quebec's autonomy, and in the course of the campaign claimed that a vote for Mr. Lapointe, who took a leading part in opposing him, was a vote for assimilation, centralisation and conscription. > Mr. Lapointe called the election national sabotage and announced that lie and French Canadian Federal Ministers would resign if the party led by Mr. Dnplessis was re-elected. "I confident it will not be a verdict acclaiming Berlin and Moscow," he declared. The last general election in Quebec was held on August 17, 10.'3 G. Tt resulted in the complete overthrow of the Liberals under Mr. Godbout. The Cnion Naiionalc Party, led by Mr. Dnplessis with a predominantly Conservative following, gained Tu seats.

LABOUR CO-OPERATION ALLIES' WAR EFFORT (Received Ortotior fi.fi p.m.) LONDON*, Orf. 20 Trade unions in Britain and France representing 10,000,000 workers have decided to form an Allied committee to defend their mutual interests and give their fullest support, to tho Governments' war effort. The committee consists of seven representatives from each country. The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain. has instructed all Government departments to co-operate fully with the Trades Union Congress and afliliated unions. The congress council in a statement said that consultations were already being held. Representatives had been appointed to a committee advising the Ministry of Supply. Representatives had also been appointed to advise the Ministry of l*'ood. Arrangements were also being made for consultations with the Ministry of Economic Warfare and the Board of Trade.