LABOUR FACTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 220, 17 September 1934, Page 7

LABOUR FACTIONS

BATTLE IN N.S.W. . FEDERAL PARTY’S REBUFF A feature of pulling in New South Wales, where most ol the changes arc occurring, is that State Labour, led by Mr. Btasrey, very nearly ousted the Federal Lauour candidates, but the Lang-BeaMey influence was not notice able in any of the other states. 'the whole of the .Ministers, with the possible exception ol Mr. J. A. Guy, assLstant-Mimster of Customs, will be returned. Mr. Guy’s position is usually in doubt until tlie last miiiuie, owing to the fact that preferences invariably have to decide me issue. So far the primary votes alone have been counted in the various States, and the position of the doubtful seat* will not ue known in some instance*until the end of next week. Tire Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, having an easy victory in Wilmot, Tasmania, on his fifcy-fiith birthday yesterday, said: “I am certainly experiencing many happy returns of my party, which is still overwhelm ingly the largest in the House of Bep•resentati' c.s. The Government has received a magnificent expression of confidence. We shall go forward \ ith the task of placing Australia completely on her feet. It is quite apparent,” Air. Lyons added, “that the people are not prepared to trust themselves to adventurers in the uncharted and tempestuous seas of financial experiment. The campaign directors ol the United Australia Party go io the length of predicting that the prime Minister will probably have a personal following of 37, losing only one seat, when the i-nal returns are m hand. Their analysis is as follows: The United Australia Party already has definitely lost the Lung seat in New South Walvs of Marybyrnortg, and the Batman seat in \ ictoria, but will gain Corangamite, \ ictoria, and Werriwa, New South Wales, from the Country Party. Thus it will have a membership of 37. Douglas Credit Candidates Although in no instance did the Douglas Credit candidates come within striking distance of success, they polled surprisingly well in some of tne electorates, ami then leaders are much encouraged. 'I hey declare that it will stimulate them to greater action. Ihe distribution of their candidates ’ preferences will have an important bearing in the doubtful contests. The extent to which the federal Labour vote slipped in New South Wales is best indicated by the heavy primary votes recorded lor Air. J. Garden, secretary of the Sydney Trades and Labour Council, over Mr. E. IKiley, the former al present haying more than a twu-to-one majority. Gar den has made previous unsuccessful attempts to obtain a seat in Parliament, and on this occasion has vanquished a difficult opponent, as Air. Kiley’s father hitherto held the Cook seat for many years, and had a strong personal following. A notable victory for the United Australia Party in New South Wales relates to Mr. T. D. Mutch, former State Minister for Education in the Lang regime. He defeated a strong opponent. Mr. H. P Lazzarini, who was the Lang supporter or State Labour nominee for Werriwa, which at the last election was won by the Country Party. The position in \ ictoria is not less interesting, though there have been no surprises. Mr. R- G. Menzies, who will probably succeed Mr. J. G. Latham as Federal Attorney-General, obtained a heavy majority at Kooyong, while Air. Maurice Blackburn and Mr. Frank

; biviinan have retrieved the Bourke an( Batman seats for Federal Labour. All Blackburn retired from the Speakei ship in the Victorian Assembly to con test Bourke. Maribyrnong has rf jected Air. J. E. Fenton, veteran ex Labour member, who, with Air. Lyons broke away from the Scullin admini titration and led to its downfall. Air Fenton allied himself with the Unite l Australia Party at the last electior and just managed to win, but on thi; occasion he will be narrowly beaten b; Mr. A. S. Drakeford, Federal Laboui New Members The new members so far include th( following:— Victoria: Af. Blackburn, F. Brennan A. Drakef >rd ■Federal Labour), R. G Menzies (United Australia). New South Wales: T. Mutch and W McCall (United Australia); J. Garder and D. Mulcahy (State Labour). Queensland: D. Watson (Federa Labour). West Australia: J. Curtain (Federa Labour). The doubtful seats are Calare am Darling in New South Wales, the Ade laide seat in South Australia, and th< Franklin and Bass seats in Tasmania LATEST RESULTS 36 SEATS TO U.A.P. Received Sept. 16. 1 1.55 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 16. Additional results from all States appear to strengthen the position of the United Australian Party, and when the counting ceased to-night the approximate state of the parties was: United Australia Party .. .. 36 United Country 12 Federal Labour 15 State Labour 8 Doubtful Seats 3 Other Parties 0 Mr 11. Horsefield, secretary of the United Australia Party. Sydney, described the outcome as a political miracle, lie would not be surprised if the party won 37 seats. Whatever ground was lost, in this State was due solely to the redistribution of boundaries. The Premier. Mr Stevens, regards the poll as the best test possible of the real political conscience of the Australian electors at the present moment. The result is most gratifying to Mr Lang, leader of the State Opposition, who is extremely pleased that the State Labour candidates have done so well in New South Wales. It now convinces him that his party should triumph in the forthcoming State elections. BRITISH COMMENT FINANCIAL MEDDLERS’ FATE Deceived Sept. 16, 7-25 p.m, LONDON. Sept. 15. The Observer says: “The swing o: the pendulum has not gone far in. the Australian polling, and the reductior in the Lyons strength is less than i‘ seemed natural to expect. The elee tion’s main significance is that the Commonwealth has vetoed the ambi tion of both Labour factions, Federa and State, to relieve the bankers ol their responsibilities. The Sunday Times expresses th, opinion that with the results satisfac tory of the whole, a revival of inter est in Australian stocks is assured.