AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 27

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

QUEENSLAND ELECTION.

BRISBANE, February 5. Keen interest was taken in the elections to-day, and the poll is expected to be a record one. Not even the most sanguine supporters of Mr Kidston were prepared for the complete rout of Mr Philp's party, as revealed by the election returns. Although the returns are' not yet complete and the postal vote has yet to be counted, it is not considered that the result will be materially altered. X Present appearances show that Mr Philp has suffered defeat at the hands of Labour in his own stronghold — Townsville. Mr Stephens, a member of the Cabinet, was defeated for South Brisbane, while Mr Leahy, another member of the Cabinet, was beaten for Warremoo. Two of the North Brisbane seats were captured by Labour. The approximate position of the parties is :—: — Ministerialists 20 Kidstonites 25 Labour 25 Doubtful 2 February 6. Mr Philp has no chance of being returned unless the postal vote is heavily cast in his favour. Mr Bowman, the Leader of the Labour party, regards the elections as a great victory for Labour. February 7. Further returns somewhat alter the state of parties. The Ministerialists l.aye now 25 seats, the Kidstonites 25, and the Socialists 22. The postal vote returned JNt* Philp and a Ministerial supporter for Townsville. All the Ministers with the exception of two were returned. SYDNEY, February 7. The Political Labour League has sent its congratulations to the Labour party in Queensland. Mr Kidston is a nathp of Falknk, and ■was recently . the guc=t of the " Falkirk Bairns" when parsing through Dunctlin. The following cablegram has boon -e.H to him from this city: — "Congratulation-. on victory. — Falkirk Bairns.'' ' THE FEDERAL TARIFF MELBOURNE, February 6. • An effort in the Senate to make New Zealand blue cod free was defeated.

The longest perfectly straight railway track is on the Rhodesia railway, from Bulawayo, in the direction of the Victoria Falls. It extends to 71 miles without a siogl* owvSi