FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16919, 19 December 1922, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

A LATER REPORT. By Telegraph~-Fre.«* Association— Copyright Australian and N.Z. cable Association. S 5 DNE\ . December 18 The election figures do not materially alter the position of parties. Speaking at a meeting at Mary borough at the end of last month, in support of the Notionalist candidate. .Mr \\ . M. PI ugh o- said:---The Nationalist candidates would recommend the elector* to give their second preference votes to Country Party candidates, but there was no under-landing with tlv ( ountry Party on the matter. The Country Party was tanning Avith a foot in either ramp. This atjis a most sinister circumstance, and be ventured to direct the attention of the people « >' Australia to it. (Hoar, hear ) Had they heard of ar-- man avlpi had been c o bitterly att::cked b\- newspapers as he had been by the im*tmpolitan .Press? The reason \vltv he had not obtained the plaudits of the new-papers was not that ho AA'as influenced l»v a gang of rich men. hut that the Ministry had gone its own avrv and had done Avhat was host for Australia. Again referring to tlm attacks made on himself by th:Labour Partv. Air Hughes said that t was stated that be had betrayed that party. “ That is the greatest tribute they can pay me. to say that I had the poAver to arrest the progress of the greatest political body in this country, and not only arrest it. but send it top pling doAvn. The people supporter! me in doing that, and if T betrayed the Labour Party I had millions of Judases with me.”