VICTORIAN ELECTIONS NEXT SATURDAY

Chronicle (Levin), 6 November 1947, Page 5

VICTORIAN ELECTIONS NEXT SATURDAY

Received Weduesuav, 11.5 p.m. MLLBOLRXE, Xov. 5. Writh Cup day excitement over, full interest has been restored to the election campaign for vvThich only two days remain. All parties are intensely active. Xon-Labour parties are already claiming a victory but Labour has not given up hope and is still insisting that the banking question will not prove as important to the electors as non-Labour claims it will be. Only a small turnover of votes from the results of the last election, are required to wrest several seats from Labour. The precarious hold on office of the last Parliament is shown by the state of the parties at the timiof dissolution when seats wero held as follow: — Labour 31, Country Party 18, 'dberals .13, Independent two, independent Labour 1. Thus in a House of 65 members the Liberals and Oountry Party held the same number of seats. as the Government whieh relied upon the votes -of- Trhe Independents. The Independent Labour member in variably voted for the Government while the two Independents, both of whom represent predominantlv nonLabour metropolitan areas on all vital issues, supported the Government. The Liberals are making strenuous elforts to unseat these two Independents whom Labour is not opposing. Tt appears fairlv eertain that these two Inlependents will be defeated. The Liberals also have high hopes of ivir.nirfg at least three other metrofolitan seats and refuse to concede thf ibssibility of losing any. With a itrict exchange of preferences, the dberals and Countrv Party say there ire several country seats whieh one or I tther of their candidates ean win. '