VICTORIAN STATE ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12990, 3 June 1904, Page 5

VICTORIAN STATE ELECTIONS

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, Juno 2. (Received June L', at 10.10 a.iii.) 'l'he weather yesterday was wet and cheerless, and to that factor the comparatively small polling for the State general flection is due. Tile new Legislative Assembly will consist of 68 members instead of 95. As only a handful of legislators decided not to seek re-election, many political associates wove found contesting the same constituencies with past comrades, with the result that many old parliamentary bands have disappeared. The pronounced feature of the election has been tlio signal triumph of Labour within the metropolitan area. In addition to the Carlton, North Melbourne, and Albert Park seats secured by Labour leaders (as mentioned yesterday), tlio Labour party carried tho following constituencies: — Collingwcod (Mr E. Wilkins), Fitaroy (Mr J. W. Killson), Flemington (Mr E. C. Warde), Port Melbourne (Mr T. Smith), and Williamstown (Mr Jolm Lemmcm). For Melbourne City the Ministerial candidate (Mr J. A. Boyd) defeated the Labour representative (Mr T. Tunnicliffe), Ac Ballarat West Mr H. S. Bennett (h.) won the seat through Messrs 0. Shoppeo (ex-mayor) and J. W. Kirton splitting the votes. All the Ministers were re-elected. The leader of the Labour party and the leader of the Opposition (Mr Donald Mackimion) only secured slight majorities for their respective seats. The latter won Prahran by the narrow majority) of 46 ovep Mr Joseph Harris (M.)

The present position of parlies is: — Ministerialists, 23; Opposition, 7; Labour, ,12. All the returns are i)ot completed. It is anticipated that Mr Bent Trill have a majority of about eight. Tiie' following wore returned without opposition: —Messrs W. D. Benzlcy (Speaker), A. W. Craven (M.), A. 11. Robert-son (M.), W. S. Koast (At.), 1). M'Lcqd (M-.), J. Thomson (M.j, J. M. Mackey (M.), J. Cullen (M.), T. Langdon (M.), W. H. Irvine (ex-Premier), C. L. Forrest (M.), and the-Hon. .Tolm 3lurray. _ 'J'lie elections for tlia Legislative Council have not ehan»c-d the character of that Chamber very much. Only one Labour member has been returned.