NATIONAL VICTORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9618, 26 March 1917, Page 6

NATIONAL VICTORY

IN NEW SOUTH WALES RESULTS OF SATURDAY’S STATE ELECTIONS. I!y Teleyraph—Pre«» Association—Copyrlyh* (Received March 2.5. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. March 25. The weather was fine for tho State elections yesterday, and the voting was heavy. Everything passed off quietly. Up to midnight, when counting ceased, none of tho returns had been completed, but the majority were sufficiently far advanced to show tliat the Nationalists had secured a solid' victory. The figures, however, are capable of considerable alteration. The state of parties appears approximately to be as follows; — Nationalists 52 Political Labour League ... 27 Independent 3 Doubtful 8 The outstanding features of the contest were the defeats of three leading men in tho late ' Parliament . These

Mr R. D. Meagher, Lord Mayor of Sydney and Speaker of the House of Assembly, was defeated for Phillip, where he stood as an Independent against Mr J. W. Doyle, president of the Political Labour League. Mr J. S, T. McGirven (Nationalist) an old Labour leader and former Premier, was defeated for Redfern by Air W. J. AlcKell (Political Labour League). Mr Arthur H. Griffith, at one time Alinister for Works, was defeated for Annandale hy Air W. J. O’Brien (Political Labour League). All the Alinisters appear safe,- though one or two are not altogether out of tho wood. Air Holman, the Premier, is putting up a great fight in Cootamundra. Mr John Storey, leader of the Labour party, had an easy victory at Balmain.

Second ballots will he required in six seats, and probably in a seventh—four between Nationalists, one between a Nationalist and an Independent, and two between Nationalists and Labour candidates.

Eight sitting members were returned unopposed. 'They were:—Colonel J. W. M. Onslow (Nat. —Bondi); Mr W. Koarsley (P.L.P. —Cessnook); Mr W. A. Ynill (Nat.—-Clarence); Sergeant C. S. Fern (Labour —Cobar); Lieutenant A. C. Carmichael (Leichhardt); Mr P. 13. Colquhoun (Nat. —Mosman); Lieutenant W. Fi Dunn (Mud'gee); Mr Jolm Estell (P.L.P.—Wallsend). (Received March 25, 11.20 ptm.) SYDNEY, March 25.

On present figures Labour has won seven seats from the Nationalists— Botany, Newtown, Redfem, Marrickville, King Division of the city, Wollongong and Kahibah, while Nationalists captured from Labour Waverloy, Hurstville and Wagga. '

Of the seats of nine soldier members at the front the P.L.L. contested four, while the Nationalists refrained from contesting any, though some were Labourites. •

■ Commenting on the figures late last night, Mr Holman anticipated a lead for his party of at least fifty-five, with an Opposition of 35. Mr Storey claimed that the result was a substantial victory for Labour. He anticipated he would have 37 supporters and the Nationalists 44, with nine uncertain.

Much regret is expressed at the defeat of the old Labour champion, Mr McGowen, who was absent jn Tasmania, recovering from the results 'of a ■Vehicle accident and was unable to conduct his own campaign. Another notable Labourite. Mr George Black (a former Chief 'Secretary) was defeated for Na/moi, where he stood as an Independent.