AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18661, 13 June 1932, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

SATURDAY’S POLLING. LANG ROUTED IN NEW SOUTH WALES. LABOUR PARTY RETURNED IN QUEENSLAND. The State elections in New South Wales and Queensland on Saturday were followed with considerable interest. The news of the complete rout of the Lang Party In New South Wales was everywhere received with much rejoicing. The partj 8 strength has been reduced from 55 to 24, and it is expected when the doubtful seats have been definitely decided Mr Stevens will have a majority of about 40. Mr Stevens has himself been returned with a majority of 6350, while that of the former Premier, Mr T. R. Bavin, reached the phenomenal figure of 12,667. Mr Langs margin of 8965 in 1931 was on Saturday reduced to 742. In Queensland the Moore Government has met with a reverse and it is expected when the doubtful seats have been decided the Labour Party under Mr W. Forgan Smith will have a working majority.

SYDNEY, June 12. The general election in New South Wales yesterday resulted in a sweeping victory for the Government parties. ' When the checking of the primary votes ceased early this morning the state of parties appeared to be: — United Parties and Unity Party . 63 State Labour Party .••■••••• 24 Doubtful 3 The Unity Party consists of candidates supporting the Government’s policy and endorsed by either the United Australia or the Country Parties for the same electorate. Two such candidates have been elected. Of the three doubtful seats the United Parties are expected to win two and Labour one. The state of. parties in the last New South Wales Parliament was as follows : State Labour 55, Nationalists 21 Country Party 14 Thus if the final results are as expected the State Labour Party will have Jost 30 scale, the United Australia Party will have gained 21, and the Country Party 9- Not one United

or Country candidate was defeated. Even the city industrial constituencies show a tremendous swing from Labour. It is apparent that the Premier, Mr B. S. Stevens, will meet the pew Parliament at the head of a United Government pledged to adherence to the Premiers’ Plan, with the unparalleled majority of roughly 40. Seats which hitherto were regarded is impregnable Labour strongholds rejected Lang candidates. Mr Stevens had a comfortable win at Croydon. High hopes were entertained at Labour headquarters of unseating Mr Stevens. However, he won his seat by a majority of 6350. Mr Bavin’s Huge Majority. The former Leader of the Opposition, Mr T. R. R;ivln. received the handsome majority at Gordon of 12,66"?. The Leader of the Country Party j and Deputy-Premier, Mr M. Bruxner, was returned unopposed. Retiring members definitely defeated in the metropolitan area are: Labour: Messrs Butler, Byrne, Cahill, Clementson, Connors, Davies, Ely, Flanagan, Gosling, Howe, Kinsella, Lamaro, Landa, McDicken and AlcLelland. Those defeated in the country are: Labour: Messrs Clarke, Donovan, Dunn, Fitzgerald, Flannery. Fo’ster, Hoad, Keast, Martin, McClelland, O'Hearn, Scully and Tully. Alt hough a neck anil neck si niggle went on at Auburn between Mr Lang and Mr P. E. Coleman (Federal Labour) the position was put beyond doubt after midnight when Mr Lang obtained an absolute mnjoiity over liis Federal Labour adversary of 7i-.’, assuring his return. Nothing so thrilling lias been pro’vided by any previous election. Mr Lang’s majority in 1030 was 8965. Former Ministers in the Lang administration who have fallen by the wavside are Messrs J. M. Tully, w. T 'Ely, W. F. Dunn, AL Gosling and j.‘ Lamaro. In fact so great is the debacle that only two of ills former Ministers at present survive namely, Messrs M. A. Davidson and W. J. McKC Mr W. Davies, formerly Minister of Education, whose constituents at Wollongong include thousands of south coast coalminers, looks like being defeated.

Mr Lang’s Comment. The sweeping defeat of the Lang Party’s forces at yesterday’s election was (generally expected outside the ranks of that party. \ll conversation during the brief, but bitter, campaign turned on the political events of Hie past 18 months and what might happen if a renewal 0 r confidence were given to Labour. labour’s slogan: "Lang is right, wa s turned ail snrls of ways by the exuberant victors. Perhaps the niosi appropriate war: “Lang is Ibght Out. Another was: "Lang is belt Mr Lang attributed Ihe debacle to ••poisonous press propaganda. He l,j. policy of suppression and dis-f.'i-tion fooled ihe people, who now nee to suitor* jf Usually it is rather difficult to es-

timate the probable state of parties before midnight on polling days, but on this occasion nothing was left to doubt, so pronounced was the swing to the Government side in all parts of the country and in many of the metropolitan constituencies. The crisis, which originated with the Governor’s' action, sent the exPremier for trial before the jury of ihe people. Now they have given their answer in a most convincing manner. The Results Reviewed. Some of the metropolitan 'seats won by Labour at the last election by narrow margins have been retrieved by United candidates with 'substantial majorities. The Bondi seat is a case in point. There Mr Norman Thomas (United) has an absolute majority of 4347 over the retiring Lang member, Mr A. Landa. Another instance is North Sydney, where Mr H. L. Primrose, Mayor of the municipality (United), ousted the Lang member, Mr B. Howe, by nearly 2000 votes. The Drummoyne seat has been won back by Mr J. R. Lee (United) from the Lang member, Mr D. McClelland. The George’s River seat has been recovered from Labour by Mr C. O. JMonro (United) by over 2000. Randwlck, where the contest held a lot of interest, has reverted to the Uniteds, whose nominee, Mr A. IT. Mover!y, practically an unknown man, defeated the Lang member, Mr J. Flanagan, by 780. llydc has given the Uniteds another seat. Their candidate, Mr E- S. Spooner, also is a new man in politics. He triumphed over the retiring Lang member, Mr E. A. Davies, by 4443, with the preference votes still undistributed. A similar position occurred al Waverley, Concord and Hurstville, where the retiring Labour members appeared to be unbeatable. The defeat at Kogarah of Mr M. Gosling, formerly Chief Secretary In the Lang Ministry, who reintroduced tin hares and fruit machines, was not generally anticipated and has created considerable comment. His chief opponent, Mr J. C. Ross (United) has a present lead of 134 6, and when the preference votes for the Federal Labour candidate (Mr P. J, Coyle) are distributed it is expected’ that Mr Gosling will go down by over 2000. The result at Petersham, where the ex-Attorney-General in the Lang Cabinet, Mr J. Lamaro, is well behind his nearest opponent, Mr E. S. Solomon (United) has created surprise in Labour circles. The Rout In the Country. The story concerning the country electorates can be summed up in the words: "Utter rout of Labour.” The Country Party, which was given rather an open field, has profited to the extent of nine seats and only two remain in doubt. One of these is Bathurst, where the sitting Lang member, Mr C. A. Kelly, is having a very close contest with the Unity Party candidate, Mr G. Wilkins, with "ihe odds in favour of the latter.

The Maitland seat, hitherto a Labour stronghold, has been lost by the Lang member, Mr W- F. O’Hearn. The adjoining seat, Upper Hunter, has been wrested from Labour in a most decisive manner.

Mr Lang's former Minister of Lands, Mr J. AI. Tully, who had a strong grip on Goulburn, a railway centre, has 'suffered defeat by over 1000. All the Riverina seats, hitherto held by Labour, have been won by either United or Country nominees. According lo the latest returns Labour seems to have lost 16 seats in (he city and 14 in the country, which wholly exceeded anticipations. The doubtful scats are Canterbury and 11luwarra. Scenes of tremendous enthusiasm greeted the announcement of the progress returns lasi night. In the city and suburbs large crowds listened to radio broadcasts in the streets at various centres, and particularly in places of entertainment. Ai Ihe unices of ihe Uidled Australia and United Country Parties there were extremely joyous scenes. Cosiness men controlling big enterprises were spontaneous in their predictions of a revival of trade and in-uii-lry as Ihe icmiil of the people’s verdict. "We never doubted that the heart oi Australia rang.true," commented

Mr Stevens. "This glorious victory Over Langism and dishonesty hao proved to the whole world that Australians stand for probity and integrity.” The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, who is visiting Sydney, was overjoyed at the outcome of the election- He said:—“l regard it as a vindication of the policy of the Commonwealth Government toward Mr Lang. The verdict is a happy one for Australia and will do more than anything else to restore conildence in Neve South Wales.” Five Defeated Ministers. Five of Mr Lang’s Ministers were defeated. Mr J. M. Tully was Minister of Agriculture and Lands. He first entered Parliament in 1925, and prior to that was attached t.o the Registrar-Gen-eral's Department. Mr W. T. Ely, the former Minister of Health, first entered politics in 1920. He is a journalist by profession. Mr M. Gosling, the Chief Secretary in Mr Lang’s Cabinet, has been closely associated with the Labour movement for many years. He is a painter ■by trade, and was an assisted immigrant -to Australia 20 years ago.

Mr J. Lamars, formerly AttorneyGeneral, is a barrister. He fox-merly held the portfolio of Justice. Mr W. F. Dunn had held the Mudgee seat since 1910. He has twice held the portfolio of Agriculture, but was recently Minister of Forests. SPECTACULAR VICTORY. INTEREST IN LONDON. United Press Assn.—Eloe. Tel. Copyrifnt LONDON, June 12. Australian circles in London evinced most lively Interest in the elections in Australia. The Sunday newspapers give the results prominence, the headlines being indicative of-their realisation of the significance of the polls. No editorial comment appears, however. The Federal Attorney-General, Mr. J. G. Latham, referring to the result of the New South Wales poll, said:— • it is one of the finest things that ever happened in Australia, it will give Australia new heart and she will now have a real chance of dealing wtlh the problems which must be faced and which cannot be dealt with in the long run by any other methods, than honesty and hard work. “ As one of the leaders and founder of the United Australia Party, I congratulate the party upon its spectacular victory.”

RESULT IN QUEENSLAND. LABOUR RETURNED. SMALL MAJORITY ASSURED. SWING. AGAINST GOVERNMENT. United Press Assn.—Elec. tel. Copyright. BRISBANE, June 12. The Queensland State elections yestorday resulted in the defeat of the Moore Government. A i/tbour majority of about four in the new Parliament is regarded as certain. The present state of Hie parlies is as follows: Labour 32 Government 21 Independent 1 Doubtful 8 Although eight seats are. still in doubt, Labour is expected lo have a clear working majority. On the latest count Labour lias already definitely ,won 32 seats in a House of 62, and may secure one or two of the doubtful seats. The Government suffered a severe reverse in the metropolis, losing eight, seals. It did better in the country, but at least four seats changed over. All the doubtful seals are in the country. Neither the Queensland Party, the Langlsts nor the Communists won a seat. The figures reveal a pronounced swing against the Government, particularly in the metropolitan area, where In some cases the Nationalists' majorities completely vanished and others dwindled so perilously that the sitting members are not the least optimistic of their prospects of re-elec-tion. So far two Cabinet Ministers have been defeated, Mr Neil MacGroarty, Ihe Attorney-General, and Mr E. A. Atherton, Minister of Alines. Tim Premier, Mr A. E. Moore, however, Is safe. The Labour Leader, Mr W. Forgnn Smith, lias a substantial majority at Ala ckav. Labour so far lias not lost a single seal. Mrs I. Longman, the first woman member in Queensland, was defeated. A poll in one safe Government seat lias been deferred owing lo the death on the eve of the election of the Labour candidate. The new Labour Government creates a new problem for tho Commonwealth Government.

LATER. THE PARTY VOTES. EXTENT OF THE SWING. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received June 13. 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. The total votes cast for the respective parties when counting closed yesterday were as follows: United Parties 642,973 Lang Labour 496,762 Federal Labour . 53,230. Communist 10,907 independent . 21,000 Last Election. The last election votes 'counted at the same stage of the 1930 election were as follows: Nationalist & Country Party 487,593 Labour 676,202 Australian Party 24,620 Communist 9,511 Independent 12,126 THE TRAVAIL TO COME. MR LANG’S FEARS. FRIGHTFUL CONSEQUENCES. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received June 13, 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. Mr Lang, the former Premier, commented: “ The people have given their judgment upon the case as they saw it, and because we believe that the people alone shall govern we accept their verdict. I sincerely hope that Ihe amount of suffering to be borne along the road that the people have chosen to go will not be as great as I fear it will be. “ The Labour Party will continue to fight as tenaciously as ever, awaiting the hour (which will come sooner than Is expected) when the Labour Party will again be called upon to lead our fellow Australians out of the wilderness. " The policy of suppression and distortion adopted by the metropolitan press succeeded in misleading the people, and the electors have voted for a party without realising Its frightful consequences.” SYDNEY PRESS OPINION. ELATED AT SHATTERING DEFEAT GOVERNOR’S ACTION UPHELD. (Received June 13, 10.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. The Herald editorially comments as follows:

“The shattering defeat of the LangItes will arouse elation throughout the Commonwealth. The people of New South Wales have notably upheld the Governor's action in dismissing an outlaw and rebel Government. Mr Lang’s own misrepresentations (which were deliberately false) of the ts-sues upon which the Governor acted, of the issues at Saturday’s election, of the Premiers’ Conference resolutions, and of ’the declared intentions of his election opponents, have been treated by the people with derision. The fate of Mr M. Gosling (formerly Chief Secretary), whose administration will be the subject of more than one searching inquiry, and of Mr J. Lamaro (ex-Attorney-General) who disgraced his office by expressing contempt of the High Court, will be especially appreciated throughout the State. Messrs SteVens and Bruxner have received the most flattering vote of confidence ever accorded to a political appeal in New South Wales.

No Easy Time Ahead. The Telegraph, in an editorial, states: "Though it has been a sweeping victory, the Stevens-Bruxner Government has no easy time ahead of it. Eighteen months and a little more of Langism have brought the State to the verge of bankruptcy as well as civil war. The new crew of the Ship of State will have to work' off the year’s deficit of £11,700,000 and the rest of the legacy of Langism. People “Sold a Pup.” The Labour Daily editorially comments: “The people have decided, and the people should decide. Some day, perhaps, the people will really rule. To say that this present judgment of the electorates is a considered verdict on the miseries of the limes is to jest with words, when one remembers that the case of Labour was vilified, falsified and distorted out of recognition. It was deliberately excluded not only from the news columns but even from the advertising columns of the "free and untrammelled press." In the vernacular the people have been "sold a pup.” GREAT MORAL TRIUMPHArR P. COLEAIAN’S CLAIM. INTI All D ATI ON AND TERRORISAL (Received June 13. 9.55 a.in.) SYDNEY, June 13. "Considering that Air I.antg .some eighteen months ago secured over 'four to one of the votes polled and a majority of not l'ar short of 10,000, I feel I can claim a great moral triumph,” said Air Percy Coleman, the Federal Labour candidate who opposed Air Lang at Ruburn. I was handicapped by 'threats of intimidation and terrorism which included the employment of a gang to assault my workers. During the campaign I more than once was threatened personally. Langism is the most pernicious and destructive Influence in politics-” MANUFACTURERS RELIEVED. TRADES’ NEW LEASE OF LIFE. HOPES FOR RAPID RECOVERY. (Received June 13, J 0.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. Air H- Gordon Bennett, the President of the Chamber of .Manufacturers In New South Wales staled the manufacturers felt much relieved at Ihe result, for they foresaw If the Lang party were returned Ihe gradual destruction of their industries for the purpose of soeialisalion. The result gives us a new lease of life and new hopes for Ihn rapid recovery of our Most trads.

PARTIES UNCHANGED, j ELECTED MEMBERS. SEVERAL SEATS STILL IN DOUBT. United Press Assn.--Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received June 13, 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. The state of parties is unchanged. The members in the new House are as follow: — United Australia Party—4o. Ardill, Yass; Bate, South Coast; Bavin, Gordon; Bennett, Glaucester; Chaffey, Tamworth; Dunningham, Ccgee; Fleck, Granville; Fitzsimons, Lane Cove; Foster, Vaucluse; Gollan, Parramatta; Harper, Arncliffe; Henley, Burwood; Howarth, Maitland; Jackson, Neapean; Jarvie, Ashfleld; Lee, Drummoyne; Levy, Woollahra; Lloyd, Concord; Lloyd, Mosman; Loughlin, Goulbourn; Main, Albury; Martin, Oxley; Monro, Georges River; Morton, Wollondilly; Moverley, Randwick; Ness, Dulwich Hill; Primrose, North Sydney; Reid, Manly, Ross, Kogarah; Shand, Hornsby; Sanders, Willoughby; Solomon, Petersham; Spooner, Ryde; Stevens, Croydon; Thomas, Bondi; Tonking, Orange; Waddell, Waverley; Walker, Hawkesbury; Webb, Hurstville; Weaver, Neutral Bay. United Country Party.—2s. Ball, Gorowa; Brown, Upper Hunter; Bruxner, Tenterfleld; Budd, Byron; Buttenshaw, Lachlan; Carter, Liverpool Plains; Drummond, Armadale; Elliott, Ashburnham; Hanklnson, Murrumbldgee; Hedges, Monomo; Henry, Clarence; Kilpatrick, Wagga Wagga; Lawson, Murry; Maine, Temora; Messingham, Lismore; Reid Casino; Reid, Young; Ross, Cootamundra; Sinclair, Namoi; Spring, Afydgee; Vincent, Raleigh; Wade, Barwon; Wilson, Dubbo; Will-Ins, Bathurst; Yeo, Castlereagh. The foregoing include two Unity members. Lang Labour—24. Baddeley, Cessnook; Booth, Kurri; Bourke, Newtown; Cameron, Warratah; Cryne, King; Connell, Hamilton; Connelly, Newcastle; Davidson, Cobar; Davies, Illawarra; Heffron, Botany; Lorsington, Sturt; Keegan, Glebe; Knight, Hartley; Lang, Auburn; Lazzarinl, Marrickvllle; Lysaght, Bull!; MoGirr, Bankstown; McKell, Redfern; Olde, Leichhardt; O’Sullivan, Paddington; Quick, Balmain; Shannon, Phillip; Stuart-Robertson, Annandale; Stanley, Lakemba. Canterbury is still very doubtful; Marrickville, Illawarra and Bankstown are also in doubt, but it Is expected the Langite candidates will win these. Granville Is likewise undecided, but it is anticipated it will go to the United Party. FEDERAL PREMIER PLEASED. CONFIDENCE APPRECIATED. A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY. United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright (Recevled June 13, 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. Mr B. S. B. Stevens, when Interviewed, stated: “As Premier of the United Government, I am delighted with the complete expression of conildence in our Government as indicated by Saturday’s overwhelming victory. I consider it a victory fot democracy. I am confident the result of this election will be immediately felt both overseas and in Australia.”

QUEENSLAND ELECTION. THE LATEST RETURNS. .LABOUR 31. GOVERNMENT 28. LANG PLANNERS NOT POPULAR. Unite' 1 Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received June 13, 1.55 p.m.) BRISBANE, June 13. When counting ceased early this morning the state of parties was indicated as follows: — Labour 31 Government 28 Independent 1 Doubtful 2 One of the two doubtful seats together with the Independent seat, is likely to be ranged against Labour so the final figures probably will be: Labour 32 Anti-Labour 30 The two Lang Plan candidates who contested metropolitan seats polled only 559 votes between them.