FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 18

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

LABOUR LEADING. HOBART, December 21. Mr M’Williams, deputy-leader of the Country Party, is definitely defeated f or Franklin. SYDNEY, December 26. The week-end election returns show slight alterations in the State of parties, which is now: Labour 30, Nationalists 28, Country Party 14, Liberals 2, Independent 1. Altogether five of Mr Hughes's Ministers have been defeated—viz., Messrs Massy Greene, Poynton, Lamond, Rodgers, and Earle, and ex-Ministers Wise and Laird Smith. The Senate is complete. In Tasmania a candidate of each party was returned. December 27 Though the final results of the voting for the House of Representatives will not be known for a few days, and allowing for one seat where the issue is still uncertain, the gains and losses may now be allotted with a fair amount of certainty. The Nationalists gained from the Country Party one seat in each of the States of New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania, and one from Labour in New South Wales. The Nationalists lost two seats to Labour in New South Wales, two in South Australia, and one each in Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania. The Nationalists also lost two seats to the Country Party in New South Wales, two in Tasmania, and one in Victoria. The Liberals secured one seat in Tasmania at the expense of the Nationalists. Labour made all its gains from the Nationalists. The Nationalist Party gained the Macquarie seat, which was previously credited to Labour. The position otherwise is unchanged. Finality in the Senate results is expected next week. ALLEGED LIBEL. SYDNEY, December 22. Mr Justice Adams refused Mr Hughes s application, calling on Claude De La Lande, journalist, to show cause why a criminal prosecution should not be commenced against him in connection with the publication of an article in the Daily Mail. His Honor severely commented upon the length to which a newspaper might go in its criticism of public men. He said he thought the proper course for Mr Hughes to adopt was "to proceed against the Daily Mail civilly.