LIBERAL PARTY CAPTURES MOST OF LOST SEATS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 November 1947, Page 5

LIBERAL PARTY CAPTURES MOST OF LOST SEATS

(N.Z.P.A,

—Reuter,

Copyright)

Reeeived Sunday, 7.0 p.m. MELBOURNE, November 9. In the greatest landslide in the political history of Victoria Labour has been reduced to almost haif its former strength in the Legislative Assembly. At the close of the counting last night it was apparent that Labour had lost at least twelve and probably sixteen seats. A s1 riking i'ealure of the eleetion has heen the suceess of the Liberal Party which has captuml most of Labour 's lost seats and now slands well ahead of the Conntry Party, its fonner eontpanion in opposition. The slate of tlie parties in the old Legislative Assembly,* with the probable figures in Ihe new liouse added, is as l'ollovs:—

Ro far three Ministers have been defeated and others are hardpressed. The defeated Ministers are the Deputy-Premier ( AI r. .Field; Mines Minister (Alr. McKenzie) and Chief Seerelary (Mr. Slaterj who had majorities in their favour of 807, 1931 and 3715 voles res])eetively in the last elections.

The vnting startecl slowlv and was unmarked by incidents. A 1 1 the hotels reniiiined open, and poliee head(|uarters received only oue call i'rom electonu oflicers. A pnlliug booth otticial or Houth Yarra was detained by the poJiee after a report hy another oftieer that he opened the hallot hox an hour heiore J h e poll'mg emled and took out a liandi'nl nf votes. He teart'ully explainen that he was trying to naike a eorreetion ut the request of a voter. An inmieuiaie, inquirv is heing lield. Though retunis i'roni the country wero slow in coniing in it was soon apparent that Labour would sutTer a reverse and that the Liberals were strong even in tlie j'ountry areas where torrneriy the Country Party had heen the rhief contestant against Labour. 'l'iie two independents on whose votes the 'ain Coverninent had lieen retained 111 power since tlie previous eleetion were the earliest casualties. Jeader ( .\1 r. .lohn (Hadstone MeDonald) tnade an early prediction that the. Opposition coubl claim 15 seats. * ' 1 1 is a • lcfinite landslide in which the Yictorian peojde have confirnied their faith in the British wav of lii'e," he added. ''It ineans that Socialism is out for good in Victoria.'-' " What can anybody say about ligures such as these.' The peo]de liave spoken,'' couiinented tlie general seerelary of ihe Labour Party ; AI r. B. .). K ennedy i. Senior Labour Party nien are blaniing the attacks by Federal and State Latiniir nien 011 fonner prisoners of war i Mes-rs Hlain and Kent Ilughesi for ihe ioss of some seats and thousnnds of \ otes. The result is regarded in all camps as an unequi vocal condeninat ion of tlie )'"edej a i ( biverninent 's banking policy ' uhicii ivas iindoubtediy the principal issiie.

i Old New Labour 31 .1(1 Independent. Labour .... 1 1 Liberal 13 27 Country Party 18 21 Independent 2 0