AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10592, 22 October 1910, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

[By Electric TELEOKArrr—--Copyright.] (Per Press Association.; THE SECOND BALLOT. Received October 21, at 9.45 p.m. Sydney, October'2l. , Much was. taken in. the Sfc.'< Leonards election. It is the first' tinier the second ballot has'been tried in the State. v,;A'.- ; :'- •Mr easily held the leading position secured last Friday, beating tin? .Labor candidate,by a big ~ ~ - ' 'THE BINGABA ELECTION. "»SL-". . Sydney,-October 21". Tfie -mystery of-the.Bingara election 'is cleared up. 'The returning' officer made out two .returns, one being sent to Sydney in the reversed order of the candidates'- names' making it appealthat Mr Mo'ore was elected. This was ilicorrect," Mr M'Donald (Labor) securing a" majority of 40. .THE STRENGTH OI\PARTIES. " Sydney, October 21. Including ±he St. Leonard's . second' ballot the - strength of the parties therefore" remains: Labor 46; Liberal 44. . , - It is considered unlikely that the remaining second ballot will alxer the position. THE NEW MINISTRY. Received October 21, at 11.5 p.m. , Sydney, October 21. The new Ministry has been formed, the members being:— Mr J. S. T. M'Oowen, Premier and Treasurer.

Mr W. A. Holman, Attorney-General and'Mmister of Justice. Mr A. Edden, Minister of Mines. Mr D. M'Dounell, Chief Secretary and Minister of Agriculture. Mr M. Neilsen, Minister of Lauds. Mr A. H. Gnfhths, Minister of Public Works.

Mr G. S. Beeby, Minister of Educa tion and Minister of Labor.

Mr Thrower, Vice-pr,esident of the Executive Council. Mr A. C. Carmieba'el and Mr J. L. Trefle, Honorary Ministers and Assistants to the Treasurer and Agricultural Departments respectively. With the exception of Mr M'Gowen and Mr Thrower, who were accepted without balloting, the caucus selected the Ministry by an exhaustive ballot. The selection is considered to be a good one in". Labor circles.

A NARROW ESCAPE. Perth, October 22. The Government escaped s defeat by the casting vote of the Chairman on the Agricultural Bank Bill. The Opposition is demanding that the Bill should be fallowed to advance £IOOO to settlers instead of-£750.

NORTHERN TERRITORY. Melbourne, October 22. Mr Hughes states that the South Australian Council's rescinding the Northern Teintory agieement does not effect the attitude ot the Federal Government representatives.

THE CONSTITUTION BILL. ' Melbourne, October 22. Mr- Cook moved tn amendment to the Constitution Hill, limiting the extension of industrial powers to the same as proposed by the previous Government. This was defeated by a purely party vote. PRESS OPINIONS. Received October 22, at 10.35 a.m. Sydney, October 22. The' Herald states that thu new Ministry is at least representative cf tlio"party. The result of the St. Leonards second ballot is a reminder to the povernment that the cause represented by the Opposition had' not Jost •ill power. On figures it was not certain whether 'Mr M'Gowon occuin'ecl a more enviable position than Mr Wade. The Independents would not support the main features of the policy with ,which Labor was identified. Another appeal to the people may be necessary in the near future.

The Telegraph says that on the whole the Ministry is a creditable one, but as the caucus will have the Ministers under their thumb, the personnel is not of nmcli consequence. By appointtwo honorary -Ministers, they have made thp sweets of office go as for as possible.