ANTI-LABOUR VICTORY

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 29

ANTI-LABOUR VICTORY

N.S.AV. ELECTIONS. SYDNEY, April 8. Although the results of the polling in several of the electorates is still in doubt, the ultimate result of the general elections just held in New South AVales seems certain that there will 'c 52 anti-Labour mr mj bers returned ae against 3S Labourites, i Almost, immediately on the results of too -y. f- :,,n becoming f'irly certain with the j the ■ -m..!- vot« th< -■ a: I s j, ;1 was at oi.ee relieved when ' tain the Labour Government would Co"’"’' bemton. It was close on a week after polling day before the election continuation count continued. Proportional representation means for the unfortunate candidates who are not well up in the first preferences excruciating agony of waiting. The votes of those who happen to be away in distant parts of the State must reach the returning officials by post before a commencement can be made with the transfers of surpluses or preferences. Until every vote is in the total vot;n,r 0 f the electorate cannot he divided by the number of candidates to be elected (plus II so as to ascertain the quota. In many of the electorates where the polling has been finalised there were many surprises in the operation of preferences, candidates, who on the primary voting seemed certain of election having to give way to others through the allocation of preferences and surpluses. As to the future Government there may be something definite known this week. Though some sin-prises are still to be expected, the fact that the voting was 190,000 against Labour was regarded as decisive enough to indicate the position. Labour leaders, while awaiting the counting of the preferences spent the time in hitter wrangling as to the cause of the defofit. The Dooley section blamed Mr M’Girr. Officials of the leagues blamed the greed of the parliamentarians in sacrificing everything to the salvation of their seats. Dissension was rife at the beginning of the campaign, and it worked up t-o a storm at the end. The executive of the Australian Labour Party came into plenty of vituperation, especially for an attempt "to take into its own hands ihe selection of candidates. The executives orders about first preferences were resented. The movement was split in several electorates and fairplay was thrown overboard in the fight for self A stormy time is expected when the next Labour conference _ is convened. Acco:d ; ng to some Labourites, the campaign wae the worst organised for many , years. In the midst of the turmoil the Premier (Mr Dooley) fractured his ankle, and so the resignation of the Government has been postponed.