THE TASMANIAN ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22285, 11 June 1934, Page 6

THE TASMANIAN ELECTIONS

The one Gover, uncut in Australia th'at has held office throughout the depression period is itself now in jeopardy. The general election, which was held on Saturday, in Tasmania seems likely to leave the Nationalists, led by Sir Walter Lee, with a very slender majority even if it has one at all. The issue apparently depends upon the result of the contest for one seat. If the Nationalist candidate wins it the Government will have a majority of two, and it might be possible for it in a Legislative Assembly which comprises thirty members only to carry on fairly comfortably with sixteen votes to fourteen. But if the Nationalists lose the crucial seat parties will be evenly balanced, and it is not easy to sec that any adjustment could be effected between the Premier and Mr Ogilvic, the leader of the Labour Party, that would prevent a paralysis of government. The cabled reference to the heavy defeat of two [Federal Labour candidates, who offered their sevices to the electors, is not to be construed as meaning that the other Labour candidates were necessarily to be regarded as .Langists. Their leader has, in fact, stated emphatically that they are in no way connected with Mr Lang and his followers—that they represent the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Labour Party. As it might be supposed that the Australian Labour Party is either pro-Scullin, in which event it is a Federal Labour Party, or pro-Lang, the. dissociation by Mr Ogilvie of his supporters from Langism is somewhat confusing.