TIE WITH LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27383, 8 May 1950, Page 5

TIE WITH LABOUR

Liberals Gain In Tasmanian Election ANOTHER POLL IS EXPECTED New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 9.20 p.m. HOBART, May 7. With most of the votes counted in the Tasmanian election, it would appear that another poll is imminent. It seems likely that a deadlock will occur with the Liberal and Labour parties each winning 15 seats in the House of Assembly which has 30 members. In the previous Parliament Labour had 15 seats, the Liberals 13, and Independents two. If the result is a deadlock there will probably be a move to amend the State Constitution to provide for an uneven number of members to prevent further stalemates. At present five electorates each have six members elected on the proportional representation system.

Present indications are that each party will have three members returned for each electorate. The Independents are unlikely to retain their seats. The Minister for Tourists and Immigration, Mr E. R. Howroyd, is in danger, and his seat may go to the former Federal Minister for Repatriation, Mr H. C. Barnard, who was beaten at the Federal poll. The Liberal leader, Mr R. C. Townley, has polled more than one-third of the total votes in his electorate. He stood as an Independent at the last election and joined the Liberal Party as its leader during incidents concerning the appointment of Mr T. G. D’Alton as Agent-general in London.