LABOUR WINS EAST SYDNEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18821, 9 March 1931, Page 7

LABOUR WINS EAST SYDNEY.

Majority Falls Eleven Thousand. AFTER ELECTION REFLECTION. United Press Association—By Klectrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 8, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 8. The East Sydney by-election resulted: — E. J. WARD (Labour) .. 19.975 L. J. COURTENAY (Nat.) 16,333 W. A. MOUNTJOY (Com.) 611 Informal 1063 It is expected that Mr Ward will win by at least 3000 votes. The former Member, the late Mr John West, however, won the seat for Labour at the 1929 elections by an overwhelming majority of 14,000 votes. The Nationalists claim that the electors’ lack of sympathy with Mr Lang’s financial plan was clearly established yesterday, by the greatly reduced Labour majority. Trades Hall officials regard Mr Ward’s victory as a splendid achievement, in view of all the circumstances. The number of electors enrolled was 46,000. What the Verdict Means. The “Sun’s” special representative at Canberra says: “The immediate result of the East Sydney by-election must drive further into the Federal Labour, the wedge which is already splitting and disrupting the Party. The problem now confronting Mr Scullin is whether to admit Mr Ward into the counsels of his Party, when the Caucus meets on Thursday, since Mr Ward contested the by-election on a policy entirely in conflict with that espoused by the Prime Minister. If Mr Ward is excluded, necessarily Messrs Beasley, Eldridge, Lazzarini, and Senators Dunn and Rae must also remain. MR LANG’S APPRECIATION. The Premier (Mr Lang) in a statement said the result of the contest was a message to all Australian Governments that the people were determined that Australia’s interests shall be served at all costs. Mr Ward had won in spite of unprecedented opposition. “The policy he fought for,” added Mr Lang, “must become Australia's policy, if our nation is to avoid bankruptcy and degradation.”

Mr Ward’s statement contained the observation that his success amounted to the vindication of Mr Lang and Mr Beasley. Opposition Rejoinder. Mr T. R. Bavin (leader of the State Opposition) contended that the substantial swing of the Labour vote to the Nationalist, was definite condemnation of Mr Lang’s financial proposals. At the same time it was difficult to understand how anybody could be found to endorse such infamous and ruinous proposals.