ELECTIONS IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5153, 21 December 1903, Page 5

ELECTIONS IN AUSTRALIA.

THE FEDERAL PARLIAAIENT. PARTY GAINS AND LOSSES. STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT. SIDES. SYDNEY, December 19. Nob counting Kivorina, which is still in doubt, the Opposition has gained three seats in New ; 4bouth Waic.v-yiu Now England, where Air Lonsdale displaced Mr Siiwers (late member), Cowper. whore Air Clarke (the Government Whip) suffered defeat at the hands 'of Air Lee, and Hunter (Sir Edmund Barton’s old seat), where Air Liddell scored a thumping majority over a Aliniatorialist. The Opposition, lost one scat —Gwydir—to Labour. In the Senate the Opposition gains one seat. The Labour candidate (Air Griffiths) has now fallen a long way behind, while two lady candidates occupy second and third places on the list. In Victoria Miss Goldstein stands third from the bottom for Corio. Air Donald AloDonald made a good fight, hut Air Crouch (the lato member) was too strong for him. ' In Queensland Air Qtilpin was elcctq-I in place of tho Hon T. AlacDonald-Pe-terson for Brisbane. One of tlio features of the election in New Sou'th Wales was that of tho three members of the Assembly who resigned to contest tho federal seats, two— Messrs Lonsdale and. Webster —were successful. In Arictoria nine members of tho Assembly and Council resigned, and only two—Messrs Tronwith and Grattan Wilson —were successful. In the light of later figures, and with one or two scales still in doubt tlio “Sydney Aloruing Herald” alters tlio probable constitution of tho now Hoiuso to—Ministerialists 20, Opposition 24, Labour 24, Independent 1. Tho “Telegraph” places tho position as follows: —Alinisterial 20, Opposition 27, Labour 22. MELBOURNE December 19. Tho opinion is voiced in some quarters that as 'the Labour party has como back so strong there is nothing for it now ■ but to bring about a coalition of tho Government and Opposition parties, and so force Labour to become a direct Opposition. LABOUR’S, VICTORY. COAIAIENTS OFSYDNEY NEWSPAPERS. SYDNEY, December 19. Tho “Sydney Morning Herald,” in a loading article, says.'—-‘‘An outstanding fact of tho elections is that tho Labour party has como back with increased strength. In Now South Wales alone tho party was held in reasonable check. It seems that this is more than a reconnaissance in force; 'it is an invading army. It represents, it would seem, ar claim not for representation hut for dominance, as against clean and good citizenship. Tho Commonwealth may have to unite in self defence.” After attacking tho Labour party’s methods, the “Herald” gocs.-on to say:— “It appears not to Jiavo tho merit of even knowing what it wants, and its representatives seem reduced to one instinct— to clutch at a plank. It may ho, therefore, that wo over-estimate the solidarity of labour. The more inohoatcnoss of purpose itself makes a most surprising comment on tho presence of labour in politics, for it shows that, after all, the highest intelligence is not found in tho lowest ranks, and that Government by the least fit would not necessarily herald a miV.lenijim of concord and peace. It might not have been thus; it might have been that Labour would have taken an enlightened as well as a self-interested view, hut experience shows that there is little hope of that in the immediate future, aiiid wo shall .have to struggle along against misguided sentimont.and mistaken selfinterest until such time as education does its slow hut steadfast work, or at least until such time as an indifferent majority aro goaded to strength.” THE LEADER OF IHE OPPOSITION SYDNEY, December 19. The Right Hon Q. H. Reid, reviewing tho situation claimed that tho result of his appeal in New, South AVales abundantly justified tho attitude he took upon fiscal affairs. When it was possible to go into the numbers it would he shown that the traditional policy of the Mother Colony was never so near the hearts of tho people. As far as ho could judge, tho Opposition would be stronger than the Government, both in the House nnd Senate, but the striking gains made by tho Labour party would make tho Government, more -abjectly dependent than, ever on Labour fox* an existence. Sir Win. Dyne, while admitting tho free trade gains in New South. AVales, claims that tho verdict of the elections is a victory for protection and fiscal peace. LONDON PRESS OPINIONS. (Received December 21 0.50 a.m.) .LONDON, December 20. “St. James’s Gazette” considers that the Labour victory is a misfortune for Australia. ' It has an engaging programme that every employee is his own employer, hut it will ho a ruinous policy for Australia. ' ' ’ ■ ' Tho “Daily News” says!—Tho election is dead against Air Chamberlain s policy, to which Australia is indifferent. The “Standard” thinks Moderates may save the situation by a coalition, though that is unlikely. It predicts that tho Commonwealth will experience a most Lying regime,, and fears that tho dogmas of o. militant, intolerant trade unionism will ho applied in a drastic provocative form. It regards it as significant that control has passed to the most, rabid .protectionists, and says that colonial preference , finds hardly a kind woiyl from Australian workers, who give no whisper of any return for offered advantages.