A LABOUR DEBACLE

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16651, 17 November 1925, Page 5

A LABOUR DEBACLE

CHARLTON CONVINCED

CABINET MAJORITIES ASSURED. IN HOUSE AND SENATE. With three seats still doubtful, the combined Nationalist and Country Parties are assured of 50 seats in a House of 75 members. (Vlr Charlton, the Leader of tho Labour Party, admits that the Government Is assured of a majority in both Houses. The result of the voting for tho Senate cannot yet be definitely forecasted, but a Labour debacle is Indicated.

(United Press Association.) Received November 17, 1:1.30 a.m. SYDNEY, November 17. Mr Charlton, the Leader of the Labour Party, now states it is clear the Government will have a majority in both Houses. On the basis of the latest figures available, the state of parties is:Nationalists 35 Independent Nationalist i

Country Party 14 Labour 22 Doubtful 3 Although a Nationalist victory in tiie Senate is expected, the distribution of votes has not readied the stage where it is possible to definitely forecast the result; but on existing figures it indicates a Labour debacle. On the present figures the Nationalists have won from Labour a seat each in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, and have chances of winning two others. The Country Party also won one in New South Wales at Labour's expense.

Air. Theodore, who on the earlier returns was announced as the winner of the Herbert seat for Labour, is now drifting back, and there is a possibility of the Nationalist retaining it. In connection with the Kennedy scat, where Mr. Francis (Nationalist) had a walk-over owing to the death of tho Labour candidate, it is understood Mr. Francis is reluctant to allow the present position to stand, and wishes to resign and contest a by-election. The Nationalist executive is considering the position.

The new Parliament will hold a short session opening on January 13, when it will elect a Speaker and deal with matters relating to the transfer of the Federal capital to Canberra.

INTEREST IN UNITED STATES.

COMPULSORY VOTING PRAISED

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.)

NEW YORK, November 15

Considerable interest was shown in New York in the first news which indicated the return of the Bruce-Page Government in Australia. Tiie Australian Commissioner to the United States, Sir James Elder, received a cablegram, copies of which were distributed among all the American newspapers. The New York Times, which has been reporting tho weekly progress of the election campaign, has published extracts from the speeches of various candidates, and has commented particularly upon the statement made by Mr Bruce to the effect that the paramount issue before the Australian people was that of orderly government or chaos.

The paper, moreover, drew attention to the fact that Labours prospects, which appeared more favourable five months ago, had been considerably injured by the unauthorised shipping strike, which had Labour’s orators upon the defensive. Various newspapers have commented upon the compulsory voting system in Australia, and have asked whether the United States should not adopt a similar procedure, as it had copied the Australian secret ballot with good results in the direction of electoral honesty.

A SANE DECISION. OPINION IN ENGLAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, November t 5. The newspapers refrain from much comment on the Commonwealth elections, pending the final result. Those which do refer to the subject congratulate Mr Bruce on his fine fight, and on his victory over disruptive forces, and Australians on their sane decision.