FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 October 1929, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

LANDSLIDE TO LABOUR.

THE PRIMARY REASON. Pieci Association- Electric Xeiecraph -Copyright SYDNEY, Sunday. The House of Representatives election returns to midnight reveal a definite landslide to Labour, which is practically certain to have a good working majority, also that Mr Scullin will be Australia’s next Prime Minister. Indeed, the Nationalist and Country

Party Government has suffered a do

bade so great that even Mr Bruce himself, who has reigned for nearly seven years as Prime Minister, runs a risk of losing his seat. Four Ministers, Mr C. L. Abbott, Minister of Home Affairs; Mr W. G. Gibson, Postmaster-General; Sir Neville Howse, Minister of Health and Repatriation; and Mr C. W. C. Marr, Honorary Minister, appear to have been defeated. The last-named is on his way back from the League of Nations’ conference, but will not reach Australia until next week. He has been badly beaten by Mr McTiernan, former State Attorney-General in the Lang Government. There is still slight hope for Sir Neville Howse and Mr Abbott.

A feature of the checking last night was the battle in Flinders (Victoria) for the Prime Minister’s seat, where Mr E. J. Holloway, a well-known trade union leader, maintained his lead the whole of the evening, and when the counting ceased for the night Mr Bruce was still 900 behind with 6000 votes to come. However, Mr Bruce should just inanago to win when the preferential votes are distributed. Mr Bruce at the last election defeated Mr Holloway by no fewer than 12,000 votes. A noteworthy feature is the triumph of some of the Government breakaways. Those members responsible for the Government’s defeat on the arbitration issue which precipitated the election, namely, Messrs Hughes, Marks, Maxwell aud Stewart, each has a substantial majority. Especially is this so in the case of Mr Hughes, who has defeated Mr Nott (Nationalist) by 12,000 votes; and Mr Marks, who already has a 9000 lead over his Nationalist opponent, Mr Manning. An analysis of parties early this morning showed that Labour had 44 seats within its grasp, while the BrucePage party had dwindled from 42 to 26, the remainder being held by Independent Nationalists. Counting will be resumed to-night.

The composition of the last House of Representatives was: National 30, Country Party 13, Labour 32.

It is almost incredible the changes that have taken place in some Nationalist strongholds in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Many old members arc disappearing, only to be replaced by Labourites whose chances of victory were never dreamed of. The position in Victoria discloses a definite swing to Labour. The aggregate number of votes cast for Labour is far greater than at the previous election.

Mr Mawcll, one of the recalcitrants, has a firm grip, his lead being 9000. with only a handful of votes to come. The same applies to Mr Stewart, another recalcitrant.

The West Australian figures give no indication of the position of parties, but it is believed there will be no material alteration.

The outlook in Queensland and South Australia is more favourable for the Government, but there is small hope of the Bruce party winning additional seats.

The Government is losing at least two seats to Labour in Tasmania, wheie Messrs Lyons and who resigned from the State Parliament to contest the election, arc in a winning position. Mr Scullin, Federal Labour leader, commenting on the result, says: The results to date are magnificent.” Mr Theodore, deputy-leader, says:— “Our gains are greater than I anticipated. We should have 44 seats in the new Parliament.” Mr Bruce is deeply disappointed. He admits a noticeable swing of the pendulum in favour of Labour, and deplores tho defeat of at least five of his old colleagues. Mr Hughes says the Government s defeat sounds the death-knell of party and the party machine. He adds: “ Arbitration is to remain an integral part of our social life.” Labour’s victory by reason of its decisive nature makes another election in the Federal sphere almost certain within the near future, as the ; Senate, which is overwhelmingly anti-Labour, is able to obstruct the Labour programme. Moreover, it is believed that Independent Nationalist .breakaways who received Labour support yesterday are bound to ally themselves with Mr Scullin in the major portion of his programme. . The headquarters of the National Association expresses the opinion that the primary reason of the Government’s defeat at the polls was the fear that with the abolition of the Federal Arbitration Court an organised attempt by the anti-Labour forces ivould be instituted for an all-round reduction of wages, while the entertainment tax also helped to cloud the real issue before the people. —A. and N.Z. P.A.

REFLECTED GLORY. NEW YORK, Saturday. The Australian Press Association has sent to Mr MacDonald an Australian dispatch indicating that Labour had won 50 seats, and stating that the increased prestige of'the English Labour Government had contributed to the Australian Labour Party success. The Prime Minister’s secretary, Mr Vansittart, expressed regret that, due to the lateness of the hour, he would hesitate to ask Mr MacDonald to comment. Mr MacDonald earlier to-day, however, had expressed great interest in the issues of the campaign outlined to him in audience by Mr Brookes.—A. and N.Z. P.A.

PRESS COMMENT. (Received Monday, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sunday. The “Observer,” commenting on the Australian elections, says: "It is generally recognised that all is not well with Australia economically, and that legislation will powerfully affect her prosperity. ’ ’ The “Sunday Times” says that the development of the situation created by the return of Labour will be awaited with deep anxiety, for it will undoubtedly encourage subversive eloments, which have, so long been a curse to Australian industrialism. Still, there is no cause for a panic. It may well be that in Australia, as in Britain, the Labour Government will give the extremists the cold shoulder—A. and N.Z. P.A.