VICTORIAN ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21646, 17 May 1932, Page 7

VICTORIAN ELECTIONS

LABOUR’S! HEAVY DEFEAT TRADES HALL DESPOTS BLAMED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 15. The Premier (Mr E. ,T. Hogan) said that the Trades Hall officials who had assassinated the Labour Government and had caused the defeat of the Labour candidates at the polls now knew what the people thought of their policy and threats. “The workers, who are left without adequate representation in. Parliament,” he said, " also know who is responsible for tiie Joss of the Labour Government, 1 regret that some good members of the party have been sacrificed in this way by the Trades Hall despots, just as gladiators were sacrificed by Caligula and Nero at the Colosseum to make a Roman holiday. Fifteen years of my work in building up the Labour Party in the country have been undone. The support of the country electorates, which I helped to win, has been lost to Labour by the arrogance and stupidity and the disregard of public interest of the Central Executive. The electors have now authorised the re-enactment of the Premiers’ Plan, and have given a reply to the threat published by the executive to expel members voting for its re-enact-ment.” Mr Hogan has not decided when ho will return, but he is continuing his investigations into the Marketing Products Organisation Agency. PARTY LEADERS’ COMMENT FORMATION OF NEW MINISTRY. MELBOURNE, May 16. Of the 636,906 votes counted 411,511 were cast for the supporters of the Premiers’ Plan and 225,395 for Labour candidates opposed to the plan. The Acting Premier (Mr Tunnccliffe) stated that the Labour Party lost more seats than most members of the party had predicted. “ Undoubtedly the dismissal of the Lang Ministry had an effect on our position,” he said. The Leader of the Opposition (Sir Stanley Argylc) said the vote had proved that the disastrous and senseless policy of Mr Lang did not appeal to the working men in Victoria. The Ministry will probably be out of office on Wednesday, and it is expected that Sir Stanley Argyle will be commissioned on the same day to form a Ministry. Although it now appears that the United Australia Party has an absolute majority over all other parties, it is felt that as the United Australia Party and the United Country Party presented a united front at the election the Country Party should have representation in the new Ministry if it desires it. MR LYONS DELIGHTED FEDERAL POLICY ENDORSED. CANBERRA, May 16. Mr Lyons said he was delighted at the result of the Victorian elections. “ The result reaffirms the opinions expressed by the vote recorded at the recent Federal elections when my policy was endorsed. It is also a vote of confidence in the policy which the Commonwealth Government has adopted in regard to Mr Lang v ” SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESULT LEAD LIKELY TO BE FOLLOWED. LONDON, May 16. (Received May 16, at 11 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph says: “The decisive verdict in Victoria is the best augury for the Queensland and New South Wales elections. It can hardly be doubted that Victoria’s lead will be followed. There could be no stronger testimony of the soundness of the situation in Australia than the fact of the resounding verdicts given in the Commonwealth and Victorian elections in favour of a programme of retrenchment and of taxation under which all classes are feeling serious hardship.” THE POSITION UNCHANGED. MELBOURNE, May 10. (Received May 17, at 0.12 a.m.) There is no change in the state of the parties. The counting of the postal and absentee votes is being awaited.