FEDERAL FIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13091, 3 June 1913, Page 3

FEDERAL FIGHT.

ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA

RETURNS NOT COMPLETE

(Press Assn.— By Telecraua— Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 2. There is much delay in- the sending in of the. returns, the bad state of the roads after the late heavy rains, absentee, voters., and tlie unsatisfactory condition of the rolls adding to the difficulties of the returning officers. Not a single electorate has yet completed its count, but to-day's additions have materially improved the Liberal outlook in both House and Senate, particularly as regards New South Wales. For safe Liberal seats the majorities have increased, and the doubtful seats the chances have improved. In Illawarra, which, on early returns, looked a certain gain for Labor, the Liberal vote has gone ahead. For Hume, where Sir William Lyne is running as an Independent, Labor lias fallen behind, and will possibly be defeated. For Riverina another doubtful Liberal overhauled the Labor man. The latest returns from Ballarat show that the Liberal candidate is slightly ahead. . V ... . . • Mr O'Malley "(Minister for Internal Affairs) is having a gteat fight for the Darwin seat, Tasmania. From a fair lead lie dropped behind the Liberal candidate. * " ■■■■■■>■■■ -■-> Mr Andrew Fisher (Premier) unexpectedly badly outdistanced his opponent for W^de Bay. A feature of the polling was the short shrift given to Independent candidates, who were in practically every case badly left out. . Though far from complete, the Senate figures are beginning to take shape. In New South .Wales the Liberal bunch are leading — Sir A. Gould 117,---888 votes, Mr Millen 115,500 votes, and Mr Oakes 114,637 votes, the nearest Labour candidate being Mr Grant with 106,875 votes, wlrile the Socialist bunch is nowhere. In ' Victoria the Labor bunch are ahead— Mr Russell 160,093 votes, Mr Barnes 156,276 votes, Mr McKissick 155,809 votes. The nearest Liberal/ is Dr. Carty Salmon with 146,751 votes. In Queensland Labor is ahead — Mr Maughan 25,964 votes, Mr Mullen 24,---565 votes, and Mr Ferrick 24,506 votes. The nearest Liberal is Mr Chataway with' 21,362. In South Australia. Labor leads—Mr Newland 42,057 votes, Mr Loughlin 42,043 votes, Mr Senior 41,404 votes. The nearest Liberal is Mr Vardon with ; 30,310 votes. Sir Josiah Symon. dependent) is a bad last. In West Australia Labor leads — Mr

Pearce 24,996 votes, Mr Lynch 24,138 votes, Mr Needham 24,116 votes. The nearest Liberal is Mr .Butcher with' 18,537 votes. j In Tasmania the Liberals lead— Mr Bokhap 24,631 votes, Mr Keating 24,---605 votes, Mr Clemens 24,507 votes. ; The nearest Labor man is Mr Guy, with 23,220. The referenda returns have barely Veen touched, and are too meagre to jive any indication. In New South iValos. South Australia, Queensland, and Westralia the "Yes" are leading In Victoria the "Noes" have a slight

lead, and in Tasmania - a strong lead. ' Large, crowds are watching the posting- of the ! returns! r *A*4hrch continue to improve the Liberals' p'osition. On present showing it looks as if Labor, is in for a defeat". ''. : ■•' "''" '■'-. • The latsst figures, counting safe and probable wins for the Liberals, looks like their gaining \ls. .seats as against six seats gained by Labor. If this, forecast proves correct the new House mml? consist of 39 Liberals and 36 Laborites. The Liberals are jubilant. ' •In New South Wales tha Liberals are practically certain 'of/ winning seven seats, ..as follows: Calare, Hume, Nepean, Now England, Riverina, Robertson, and Werriwa, while Illawarra is .still in doubt. '* ■ • In Victoria the Liberals won Corongamitc, Wannon, Gippsland, Indi, and Corio, with Ballarat still in the balance. Labor in Victoria captured Fawkner and Bendigo. On the incomplete but fairly reliable figures the Liberals in Queensland cap- ; tured Lilley, the newly-created j ate; while Labor gained Oxley. .1 In West Australia' the Liberals gained' Dampier, and Labor wrested Fremantle from them. , j In South Australia Labor gained two seats ' (Boothby and Wakefield.) The latest figures make Mr KingO'Malley practically safe. (Received June 3. 10.40 a.m.) I SYDNEY, June 3. | The only .alterations in the election' figures are that the "Noes" are^ leading; in New South Wales regarding the: refn'endum. In tlie Wakefield electorate, South Australia, which was previously classed as a Labor gain, the Liberals are now leading by over 1500 votes. j