FEDERAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 791, 14 April 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTION.

LABOUR POLLS WELL. LATEST RETURNS. LEADERS FIGHTING FOR PLACES. By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrlchl. (Rec. April 11, 0.5 a.m.) Sydney, April 13. Although the returns ' for the Federal General Election aro very incomplete, there are indications of a Labour victory in New South Wales and Victoria. Mr. W. M. Hughes (Labour) and Sir William Lytic (Independent member, voting with Labour) are both safe.

Mr. Riley (Labour) is leading Mr. Eden George (Liberal) by 7000. At Ballarat tho Prime Minister, Mr,. Deakin, is having a hard battle. Mr. Russell (Labour) is leading him by 1000 votes in returns totalling 8000 votes. 'There are, however, 26,000 on the roll. The returns from Queensland are small. Mr. Fisher, Labour Leader, is level in the voting with Mr. Stumm (Liberal), but there are many returns yet to come, i (Rec. April 14, 1.25 a.m.) ■i Sydney, April 13. Mr. Fuller, Minister for Home Affairs, has a safe lead for Illawarra. High Commissioner Reid's former seat, East Sydney, is almost certain to be captured by Labour. Mr. Deakin's position is improving. With 11,000 votes counted, he has reduced his opponent's lead to 400. . . Labour candidates are leading in fourteen electorates in New South Wales, in eight, seats Liberals lead, and in two Independents. ' . ' Labour carried the day easily at Newcastle. Mr. Cook, Minister for Defence, is safe. Messrs. Deakin and Fisher, the leaders, continue to improve their positions. ■ Sir John Quiok, Postmaster-General, la having a hard fight at Bendigo. He has now obtained a small lead. ■•.; A STATE BY-ELECTION. , (Rec. April 13, 9.45 p.m.) Sydney, April 13; The State by-election for Darling Harbour, to replace Mr. John Norton (who is a candidate for the Federal Senate) resulted in the return of Mr. Cochrane, secretary to the Labour Council, by an overwhelming majority.

The Federal polls closed at seven o'clock. There is little excitement.' The city count may take anything from a a week to a fortnight to complete if past experience is any guide. . ' Melbourne, April 13. , There was a rainfall in tho early part of the day, but polling proceeded. steadily and quickly. There are indications of a heavy poll. : ..... WOMEN POLLING WELL.' Sydney, April 13. , The weather is fine for the Foderal.elections. There was a rush when the booths opened. Voting since has been proceeding steadily. All parties, aro working hard. A heavy poll is promised. The women are rolling up well. *..-■ PRESS COMMENTS BEFORE THE POLL. Sydney, April 13. '.; The morning .papers predict that if the voters do : their duty the Liberals will hold their own, if they do not gain ground.' On the othorhand, Labour is splendidly organised and very confident; In most of the electorates there will be a straight-out fight, the Independents being less numerous than at the previous elections,. The/referendum on . the Finance question complicates the issue. The "Sydney' Morning Herald" advises the voters to' say 'TTes" to both the Financial agreement between the States; and tho Commonwealth and tho transfer of the State debts, while the "Telegraph" advocates voting "Ycs"to the agreement and "No" to the transfer. The "Herald," in the course of an article supporting the Government, says': "Upon tho Liboral electors of Now South Wales is to-day thrown the onus of showing that the Newcastle, strike received ho public approval." A BRITISH VIEW, (Rec. April 13, 10.50 p.m.) ' London, April 13. The newspapers deal prominently, and chiefly in an explanatory way, with the main issues of the Australian Federal election. ■ ■ • ■ "The Times" omphasises that tho cleavago is largely a question of the best methods, and hopes that, whatever the outcome of the election, it will promote that binding and peopling of the maturing Australian States in which the whole Empire is evidently concerned.