GREAT TASKS AHEAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27266, 17 December 1949, Page 7

GREAT TASKS AHEAD

MR MENZIES’S PREDICTION

WORLD INTERESTS FIRST

Rec. 11 p.m. MELBOURNE, Dec. 16. The first poll to be declared in Australia was appropriately that of the Prime Minister-elect, Mr R. G. Menies, member for Kooyong. When his campaign director called for three cheers for Mr Menzies and one for Mrs Menzies, a voice at the back cried, “And one for Ben Chifley.” The cheers were given.

Mr Menzies said: “There are great tasks ahead. We shall approach them with the feeling that Australia’s interests are greater than party interests, that British Empire interests are greater than local interests, and that the interests of world peoples who want peace and better living standards are greater than those of any national group.” The last hopes of the Minister of Defence, Mr J. J. Dedman, and the Minister of Repatriation, Mr H. C. Barnard, went in the overnight election counting. In Corio (Victoria) the famous cyclist, Mr H. Opperman (Libeiral), increased his lead over Mr Dedman to 205 votes, with only a few hundred left to count.

In Bass (Tasmania), Mr Barnard’s opponent, Mr B. H. Keswick, increased his advantage to 356. The only remaining seats in which doubt remains is Fawkner (Victoria), where Mr M. C. Cormack (Liberal) is 168 behind Mr W. M. Bourke (Labour) with about 2000 votes still to count. In Perth (West Australia) and Bendigo (Victoria) preferences will decide the issue. In Bendigo, Mr P. J. Clarey (Labour) is 344 behind Mr T. H. Grigg (Liberal). In Perth, Mr T. P. Burke, the sitting Labour member, leads Mr G. C. Hack (Liberal) with 800 votes to count. !