The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1910. N.S.W. ELECTIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14326, 17 October 1910, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1910. N.S.W. ELECTIONS.

" Tlie most strenuous and ilie most prolonged campaign ever knosvn in connection witli New South Wales politics," as it Las been called, has ended in the return to power ot' the Labour party by a majority of two members. The results of four second ballots, still to come, are hardly likely to reverse tho victory. Still Mr McGowen, the Labour leader, will have to exercise a great deal of diplomacy to maintain a Government in such circumstances. It seems difficult to escape from the conclusion of the Sydney ''Morning Herald" that " if a Labour Government is formed, it will have to depend more or less on Liberal support. This means that it will have to endure a season of manoeuvring on the three-party system, with Liberalism practically calling the tune." J he Labour Party, however, may well feel elation at their victory, whatever difficulties may lie before prospective caucus government in the future. The Government of Mr Wade incurred considerable unpopularity by its treatment of the Newcastle strike, acting - witn a good deal of weakness in the earlier stages of that trouble, and afterwards forcing* through Parliament a retrospect tive Coercion Bill for the punishment of the strfkers which was highly objectionable to the ranks of Labour. l'or other reasons the friends o£. the Liberal Party knew that its position was far from strong*, but some ground seemed to be gained during the last weeks of the election struo-- *}?■ Labour Party, on the other hand, expressed complete confidence that they would be returned to power by a greater or less majority and it was freely prophesied that, thieg i O / r

Ministerial seats would sur-ciimb to their attack. In order to obtain a clear majority, tlie Opposition required to win ten seats without losiii" 1 one. In the event they have lost one seat and it would seem gained twelve. Mr -Moore, Minister for. Lands, Mr (Jakes, honorary Minister, and apparently Mr Ho«-ue, .Minister of Education, have been defeated by their candidates. Air (lakes's seat lor which he has occupied for twelve years, was recognised by ihc Liberals to be in 'special, danger. is a middle class suburb, with a s<ron«' Labour clement, and there were three candidates contesting the seat. In these circumstances tho most hopeful outcome of the situation which Liberal journalists could predict Mas that there was a. moral certainty of a second Via Hot. the result of which would probably depend upon which party was on top. The Labour candidate has. however, defeated -Mr (Jakes without the necessity for a second ballot. The defeat of Sir James Graham for Sin-rev Mills, which, Ihe cable states, robs the Liberal Party of a proiniuout supporter, was also, vci'j much to be expected, Sir Tames having W on the seat at the last election on a split Labour vote. Mr TV ado, the Premier, and Mr MeCJowen, leader of the Opposition, who have been returned with lar»'c majorities, were very little troubled from the tirst about their own electorates, and devoted most of their attention throughout the campaign to the support of weaker candidates of their respective parties. The Labour Party may now be the ruling power in the Mother State, as well as in the general (jovernment of the Commonwealth, but its acts are not likely to be _ very revolutionary while its majority is so small. Ihe results of the local option poll, so far as they ;17*e ascertainable at present. appear to constitute a disappointment to the nolicense part v.