NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 17

NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTIONS.

Sydney, July 27. The general election took phce to-day. Immense crowds thronged the streets in front of the varvious newspaper offices. Mr Reid (Premier) and Mr Want (Attorneygeneral) received a great ovation. Three Ministers — namely, Messrs C4arrard, Gould, and Smith — -,vere defeated. The Federnl parly lost. Messrs Barton, Bruce, Smith, and R. O'Connor. Amongst others rejected were Messrs M'Millan (ex-Colonial TrcD surer), Rchoy, Norton, Famcll, Black, and Dan O'Connor. At 10 o'clock the returns were approximately : — Rcidilcs .. .., .. ... . . ufi Burtomaus . .. . . . <1S It was announced by a successful J'artonian candidate that a seat v. 11l be found for Mr Isai ton in (he new Parliament. MebSi'b Wise fii'.d Button v. en; elected The result ol the election foi the fvin^ division between the Premier and the loader ol' the Federation party was: — Ileid, 761; Barton, 651. July 28. As a i-esult of the General Election (he Labour party are now stronger in the cily The suburbs overwhelmingly favoured Ministers, while the country is iespoiisible for btrong opposition to them. Mr John Norton (editor of Truth) was defeated by his opponent in the late byelection by about the same majority that he got in by on that occasion. The greatest majority polled was that of the Hun. J. H. Camithcrs, who beat his opponent by 929.

Mr Lyne considers the election is a great victory for the Opposition, who will be so strong as to compel the. Government to approach the other colonies on the Federal question. The Herald, discussing the result, says it shows that the electors have taken Mr Reid at liis word, in spite of everything in his past calculated to excite misgiving, and that, in. bpito of his present questionable surroundings, they have accepted hia pledges and given him the opportunity he asked for iii order to accomplish Federation. It adds that the electors have imposed personally upon him the responsibility of furthering the Federation cause. In that Mr Reid is no longer in a position to command a large and overwhelming majority in the House, the Ministry have been forced to accept the Federal policy against which the late Parliament so strenuously and persistently fought. The Daily Telegraph, on the other hand, considers the result a victory for the Government, though 7 the victory has been gained with considerable loss, after one of the most desperately-contested political battles ever witnessed in New South Wales. The victory, it considers, is as satisfactory as their most sanguine supporters could have reasonably anticipated. If the Liberals lost some prominent men, the carnage amongst the chieftains on the other side has been considerably greater. It adds: "It remains for Mr Reid to immediately take the initiative for the purpose of harvesting the fruits of the victory which Federation has won. The vole of the people imposes upon him a crucial test, by which his position in Australian history will be determined." A number of returns have yet to come m. but the following figures represent nearly the position of parties: — Ministerial 65, Opposition 56, Independent 2, with two seats at present undecided. The loss of the Hon. A. J. Gould's seat was a surprise, but the strong Federal attitude of Bathurst accounted for the Hon. Mr Smith's defeat. Mr Ashton and Mr Hogue are mentioned as likely to obtain the vacant portfolios. As far as the strength of parties can be judged it is a,s follows : — Reid 66 Barton ... ... 58 Independent 1 The returns are practically complete. After the declaration of the poll Mr Barton congratulated the Premier. The latter replied, recognising the conduct of a generous, honourable comrade. When Mr Bart in withdrew from the Bourke constituency in order to contest the King division his opponents twitted him for running away from the local candidate, Mr Miller, who was regarded as a strong man. The latter, howpvpv. -vvns Hfiffifltpd by a, Bartonian by a

July 29. Probably no attempt to fill the portfolios vacant by the defeat of three Ministers at the general election will be made till Parliament meets.

Nineteen Labour members have been elected, which is the same number as in the last Parliament.

Mr Barton states that five of the successful candidates have offered to resign in his favour.

Melbourne, July 28,

The Argus states that Mr Reid will now have to come out of the clouds and state to his fellow Premiers, or to the new House, what his Federal proposals or terms really are. It is certainly in his power fo unite the Federalists of New South Wales on a programme which can be accepted by the other colonies.

The Age considers the victory not such as the Premier quite likes. The maiority seems appreciably lessened, and the Government must rely absolutely on labour allies. Federation must remain in the front rank of the colony's politics until the problem finds a solution.