WEST AUSTRALIA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 5

WEST AUSTRALIA.

STATE ELECTIONS YESTERDAY liy Telegraph—Press Asso elation— Copyrighl (Rec. October 3, 9.20 p.m.) Pqrth, Octobcr 3. The State genoral elections began today when polling took place da thirtysix out of tho fifty electorates. In ten of tlio other electorates Labour members were returned, unopposed, and polling in tho remaining four has lieen deforred until October 11. As preferential voting is being tried for tho first tdmo it is diScult lo forecast the result. Tlio general issue is Labour versus Liberalism. Tho chief planks in tho Labour party's platform are: The stoppage of land alienation and ultimato land nationalisation; tho abolition of the State Governor and tho Legislative Council; a land tax without any exemptions; tho stoppage of borrowing, except for public works which will pay interest and anting fund charges. The Ministerial programme includes tho retention of the freehold land system; the substitution of an incomo tax for the land tax; borrowing for development works; and a vigorous immigration policy. Tho elections are tho first under the Scats Redistribution and Preferential Voting Acts. There are 121 candidates for 50 seats. Labour contests overy seat', and furnishes 53 candidates; but in three electorates the eolected Labour candidate is being opposed by another Labourite. Ministerial candidates, who number 68, are contesting 37 electorates, but in four constituencies four and fivo Ministerialists, rashly relying upon the preferential vote, are standing; whilst Labour in no case runs two candidates against any Ministerialist. Tho only Goldfields constituency which the Government will contest is Menzies. which has for many years returned Mr. H. Gregory, Minister for Mines. In the other mining and timber electorates the Labour candidates were returned unopSosed, . included among the number being [r. John Scaddon, leader of the party. A great ferment was caused by the Commissioner for Railways, Mr. J. T. Short, notifying three railway employees, who are Labour candidates—viz., Mr. Burchcll. for Claremont; Mr. Dooley, for GeTaldton; and Mr. Lewis, for Canning—that all Government servants nominating for Parliament must resign, or bo dismissed. The Premier afterwards declared this to be ultra vires.

RETURNS INCOMPLETE. (Rec. October 4, 1 a.m.) Perth, October 3. The polls closed at 7 p.m., and tho returns are too incomplete to show tho state of parties.