COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 15

COMMONWEALTH ELECTIONS.

SYDNEY, April 2.

In the election for New England, Mr W. Sawers. M.L.A. (P.), replaces Mr E. Lonsdale (F.).

The selection, of six names for the Senate from 50 candidates imposed a severe task on a large number of electors. To date, it has been found that of the votes cast 20 per cent, were informal.

April 5. The following are the latest Federal re turns : —

SENATE.

New South Wales. — Messrs Walker, Millen, Gould, O'Connor, Neill, and Pulsford (aU Freetrade except Mr O'Connor).

Victoria. — The Hon. Simon Fraser, M.L.C., Sir William Zeal, Sir F. Sargood, Mr R. W. Best, Mr James Styles, Mr J. G. Barrett (all are Protectionists except S"r F. Sargood, who is a Freetrade advocate).

Queensland. — Mr Dawson (Labour and Freetrade), j\tr Higgs (Labour and Protection), Mr Drake, Mr Glas«ey (Protection), Mr Steward (Labour), Mr Fergusson (Freetrade).

South Australia. — Sir J. Lymon, Sir R Baker, Mr Charleston (Freetraders), Mr Playford, Sir J. Downer, Mr M'Gregor (Protection).

Westralia — Messrs Smith, Mathieson, Hewing, Harnie, Peace (Freetraders), De Large (Protection).

Tasmania. — Completo in the following order: — Mesrrs Keating, Cameron (Protectionists), demons, Maefarlane (Freetrade), O'Kecfe (Protection), Hon. H. Dobson (Freetrade, but supports Mr Barton).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Victoria. — Loanecoorie, Mr Salmon (Protectionist).

South Australia. — Mr Kingston, Sir J. L. Bonython, Mr Batchelor (Protectionisms), Messrs Glynne, Holder, Solomon, and Poynton (Freetraders) The returns are incom plete, but Mr Poynton only is doubtful.

Tasmania. — The returns complete : Mr O'Malley, Sir P. O. Fysh (Protection), Sir E N. C. Braddon, Messrs Presse and Cameron (Freetraders). The position of parties is: — SENATE.

Freetraders 19. Protectionists 16. Doubtful 1.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Freetraders 32 Protectionists 39. Doubtful 4. Complete returns may slightly modify these figures

PERTH, April 2.

Sir J, Forrest is disappointed over the elections Only one-third of the people voted at Perth and Fremantle, thus affording but a feeble indication of public opinion. He considers that the elections to the Senate on the basis of one electorate means practically to hand the selection of senators

over to the goldfields population, and the inteiest of the people thcie centring in one industry accoiint> for the almost solid vote m favour of Freetrade

BRISBANE, April 4

Owin^ to the no )dcd st ite of the country on the iouth-we^iein frontier, it is feaied that sc"cn of the represent itives fiom Queen-land, include,' Mr ])iakc, will be un.'ble to take their seat-, at the opening of the Tedeial Paihament It will be almost impossible to get the leturns in m time for the clay fixal for the return of the writs.

HOBART

April 2

The complexities of the H.ire .system of proportional representation, which wr.s adopted for the federal election 5 ; in this State, is greatly delaying the federal returns. It will probably be Thiusday before they are known