ELECTION CANDIDATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 12

ELECTION CANDIDATES

TOTAL OF 338 ASPIRANTS BIG NEW SOUTH WALES QUOTA A record , ntimber of 338 candidates will contest the Federal elections to be held throughout Australia to-day. There are 65 candidates for the 19 vacancies in the Senste, and 273 for the 75 seats in the House of Representatives. The total number of candidates exceeds tho previous record, established in 'the 1934 election, by seven. There are this year two fewer aspirants for the Senate than therp were in 1934, but candidates for the House of.Representatives are greater by nine. The present record figure is due to there being three Labour groups in New South Wales, the adoption of multiple endorsement bv tho United Australia Party in New South Wales, and an exceptional number of Independent candidates. In New South Wales alone there are 21 candidates for three vacant Senate seats, and 135 nominees for the 28 places in the House of Representatives. Victoria also has a very large number of candidates, but nominations in other States have not been more numerous than, usual. There are four women among the candidates in New South Wales, one standing for the Senate and three for the House of Representatives. The preferential voting system used is expected to be one of several factors contributing to anticipated delay in announcing final results. In addition, a new type of ballot-paper is being used at the Senate election, to meet complaints that in the past the group at the top of the paper had an advantage because many electors voted "straight down the ticket." Ballots were taken earlier to determine the order in which groups should appear on the voting papers.