THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1913. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Temuka Leader, Issue 7330, 7 June 1913, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1913. THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS

It is diliicult yet to forecast the results of the Federal elections with any degree of accuracy. It appears proban Ic, however, that the referenda proposals' will bo carried, and that the Fisher Ministry will bo returned by a ■ narrow majority of run in the House, and a substantial majority in the Senate. ■To close observers, the narrow majority of Labour in the new House will not come as a surprise, since the Fisher Ministry, with the responsibility of ollico upon them, have been much less promising than wore the Fisher followers before they were elevated into -'.power. In regard to the imposition of the signed-article provision upon the newspapers, it is felt that tile Fisher Ministry became a little too sensational, and the general indignation of the newspapers and the public sense of appreciation thereof, have doubtless had much to do with the - serious diminishing of the Labour majority in, the House. The result of the election will be an object lesson to Labour, and a plain indication that Socialism, however acceptable as • a dream or a distant mil lenium, is far from acceptable to tin people when its theories are put intc practice in, ever so slight a degree

We anticipate,. therefore, that the future policy of the Fisher Ministry, il returned' to- power,,.will bo, to procecc with extreme caution, and Jo please, as all Ministries before them have' .attempted -to please, the majority 'ol the people. The substantial return ol Mr Fisher, the Prime Minister, comet somewhat of a surprise to many followers of Australian' politics, since it was .believed that the redistribution o : seats, and the cutting out of Mi Fisher’s mining district, would have given Mr Wcinbolt, his opponent (a run-holder) an improved prospect, However, the maiui of a Prime Minister is great, and the occasions arc rare in. the hlstorv of Colonial politics. when Prime .Ministers have lost their seats to less distinguished candidates. ’Tin; Hon. .lames Allen was one of the few particularly able candidates who ousted a Prime Minister, vi/., Sir Robert Stout. Our readers will doubtless follow the election returns with interest, since the issue is still far from certain, and anything may happen in the course of the next few daws.