FIVE MINISTERS OUSTER

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 5

FIVE MINISTERS OUSTER

MR. THEODORE’S FUTURE “BRAINS” OF MINISTRY INFLUENCES IN ELECTION NEW SOUTH WALES ISSUES By Telegraph—Press Assn#—Copyright. Rec. 11.25 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 20. Among the most interesting features of the elections is the defeat of five Ministers, including Mr. Ej- G. Theodore, Federal Treasurer, who was more than 10,000 votes behind the Lmng Rian candidate. Mr. Rosevear. and! 3000 behind his anti-Labour opponent Mr. Massey. Mr. Rosevear is certain ip win Dailey by a substantial majority. •What Mr. Theodore will do in the future is a matter of ranch, speculation. He was regarded as the “Ibrains” of the Scullin Ministry, yet no cither electorate has shown the slightest anxiety to provide him with a safe seaet, which would enable him _to reorganifl e the official Federal Labour forces.

The defeat of Mr. Parker Moloney, Minister of Markets, was not unexpected. . He played a promimJ nt part in arranging the Canadian-Australian trade treaty, but always had a hard fight in Hume. On this occasion fife faced unusually heavy odds from the Country Party, which in recent months had conducted an intensive campaign tin New South Wales in favour of new iStates, against Dangism and against this Scullin high tariff. [ . .

For the same reasons Mt*. Cunningham, assistant-Minister of Transport, suffered defeat at the hands- of the Country party candidate, Mr. G. Abbott, who formerly held Gwydir. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Chiefly, in the Maoquarrie electorate, will not know his fate until the, .preferences are counted. „ LABOUR LOSES TN 'VICTORIA. Mr. McNeill, Minister .of Health, and Mr. F. Brennan, Attorney -General, have both-been definitely defeat jed in Victoria, where the swing away Labour was most pronounced. Mr. Brennan hitherto was returned with a hvfjje majority. The same influence al most unseated Mr. Frank Anstey, former Minister of Health in the Scullin Mi tustry. Indeed, Mr. Anstey is not yet.oVt of danger. The concensus of opinion this evening is that the anti-Labour element, otherwise the United Australia and United Country Parties, will have an absolute majority in the House of Representatives of from to 30. There is even hope of a greater majority. The state of. the parties in the last Parliament was:-— !aj ,

Federal Labour .. .in • • ........ 3» Beasley Socialist Labu ■ 5, United’ Australia Parity 23 United Country ll Independent -— •« I

Election prophets ill Tasmania predicted. that anti-Labour candidates would win all five seats, and the prophecy was entirely fulfil led, (Mr. J. A. Lyons, who is likely to be Prime Minister, is well ahead in Wilmot, although his foipner Labour colleagues are running a ustrong candidate against him. Dr. Earle Page, leadeir of the Country Party, is having a rua away victory in the Cowper electorate.

The position in Sold th Australia and Western Australia will.- have no particular bearing on the staCe of the parties except to slightly inerepse the anti-'Lab-our majority. ' The fact that Queens! and was the only State where the Government more than held its own was due to the fear that the anti-Lahour forces, were out to remove the sugar embaejjo, which was an active election cry that State; also to the unpopularity of the Moore Government, vrltdch had a cleanup of what is described as “seven years’ Labour mess,” instifii rting rigid economies, including the. sacking of 12,000 superfluous railwaynsen, insistence on thorough discipline atjd the payment of all Government debts,.

Additional received late tonight from all States islightly strengthen the anti-Labour positron. ■ The state of the parties now appears to be: Official Labour 12, Beasley-Lang Labour 5, United Australia Partly 32, United Country Party 14, Independent 2, doubtful 10.

Of the doubtful ghats Beasley-Lang Labour will probably 1 secure four at the expense of the Government, all in New South Wales. The will be won by the United which already have 46 in a 1 louse of 75.