Federal Elections.

Thames Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 10501, 17 December 1903, Page 4

Federal Elections.

HEAfVY VOTE' EXPECTED 1- i

the mmms -fbahicibdiisib-

[(Fer United Press Association.) SYDNEY, Deoemiber 16. Fimo weather favoured; the elec11h|e ipioiHing 'cjomtrnjemcied

early and went on steadily tihroughr out the day till 7 o'clock. The proceedings generally were quiety and! fchiere wtasi litbtle 'exdtier mient.

The vote is expected! to be a very heavy one in the oity and suburbs. ■■' Women availed them-selvesi largely of the: first opportunity of recording; raof*si~ miuichi more largely tham was amtbioi,pated. The referendum! on the reduction, of members of the loaal iAissembly complicated affairs somewhat as fur as New Souith Wales is aoacem,ed, and although the result thereof will not be ma,de knoiwn .to the 28th, it helped to delay the returns, which will Be later thai? itsu&l.

Arrangements ha.ye 'been made to close the ooiu'nitinig~aife tnid'nigiht, so that probably little nnore than the city and suburban .resulta will ha known to-night- It will be days for all the country and Senate returns to bo completed!.

Tho city is lively ifco-niighi. Large crowds massed in 'front of the 'vlariouis newispapar offices watching the posting of the returns!. There was! a. good deal of good! 'humoured nowdyisinThe returns are coming to hand extremely slowly.

At 11.15 .the only aomiplete return in is West .Sydney, where Hughes (Laboiir) was elected! by a good majority.

Sir (x. Reid completely 'Out-disr-taneed his opponent® for Bast Sydney, leading Thawor (Labour) by over 3000 votes.

The latest, figures place iSir W. JLyne in a safe position with a, lead of 800-

Watson, the Laibour leadte^ i<! secure.

Edward's, South Sydney, one of the Opposition seat® considered mi danger, appears, to have the Labour candidate well beaten.

Bruioe Smith, at Parkes, where Vote 'splitting threatened' ainother Opposition >scab, has .secured a-good' load.

Otherwise judging fromi the very inctomjplete figures: to handl tliei 'parties appear to be fairly well holding their own.

The lady, oandidaitjei'iSi pteitioni is not bright. *

The «ity and siuhuirftjain returns for the three viaiqancies in th© Senitte give the Freetrade bunoh! a long lead 1, the only ope 'Other 1 in the running, being Griffiths, Labour Protectionist-

Reports from othar* iS'baiteg show the polling 1 to be heaivy, ai fetatuire ■being the freedom exercised in the frai£ah.uiie.

. No returns have yet been received' from, South Australia, 'West Akistrar lia, or QueenslandIn. Victoria) the majority of the returns aire yery •incomplete. The only ones complete are INlorth Melbourne, where Higgins has been returned, and Tarran, Tudor being, returned. Dr. Quick is safe for Bendigo. The Melbourne Seat looks like going -to Labour, Dr. Ma honey havingl a good lead from Sir Maloolm, Moßaidhern- ".' - : ;j-

The Opposition «eate at Wannoi and Grampians are also endangered 1/ MJinistorialisba : amd ■_: Labour: both holding their own well. • Of the othier seata frpm Tasmatnia the only return shows toat Mr Fyet's ■eat is in dangw-