STATE ELECTION BATTLE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1926, 8 December 1913, Page 7

STATE ELECTION BATTLE.

IN NEW SOUTH WALES; j KEEN STRUGGLE; LABOUR SLIGHTLY IN THE LEAD. (Rec, December 7, o.G p.m.) Sydney, December 7. Tho weather was lino throughout for tho Stato elections, and tho voting was heavy. Tho city and suburban rc» turns are practically complete, but tho country returns are still largely ill arrears. The features of the contests bo fatas thoy have been decided, nro that Labour has not only held its own. but has captured at least two seats; a largo number of second ballots will apparently be required, and' tho rout of Mr. Beeby's new National Progressive party. Reckoning tho completed counts, and the approximately safe seats, tho latest returns ftivo Labour 36, the Liberals 34, and tho Independents 2.scats. Labour wins .Amiaudale, where Mr. Griffith, Minister for Works, ousts Mr. Bruntell, an old Liberal member, and Granville, where Mr. Nobbs, another very old Liberal identity, loses what has always been considered a safe seat. Parramat-ta, another Liberal seat, is still in jeopardy. , All tho Ministers are safe. Mr. Hoiman (tho Premier) holds a secure lead while Mr. M'Gowen (Minister for Labour) romped in by a big majority, as also did Mr. Wade, Leader of the Opposition'. Mr, Beeby, leader of the Progressive party, sot a bad fall at Waverley, and Sir William M'Millait, who ran as an Independent candidate against a selected Liberal at Wilioiighby, was badly beaten.

The new Parliament will miss tho picturesque flguro .of.Mr. Hc-nvy Willis, the ox-Speaker, who holds a hopeless position in Upper Hunter. The Labour "Machine" got a "knockout" at Botany, where Mr. Pago, sitting Labour member, who failed to secure tho caucus selection, ran away from Johnstone, tho selected candidate. Labour is threatened with tho loss of two scats—-Gwydir and Murrmnbidgee. Vote splitting by both parties,. more particularly on tho Liberal side, complicates tho issue. A second ballot is anticipated in some eight electorates. A rift has been caused by tho formation of Mr. Beeby's new party, which will support, the country., party and swing to some extent tho Catholic vote. Tho No-Licenso supporters are again hopeful of "drying" one or two electorates. Victory is doubtful, owing to tho fact of the keen and cletenriincd opposition of the Liquor party, (Roc. December 8, 1.30 p.m.) Sydney, December 8. Tho latest available returns hav? altered tho position considerably, and, as many returns from tho country cleo toratos arc incomplete, and second ballots arc required, thirteen olcctorates aro capable still of much change. Mr. Hall, Minister for Justice, is aiot secure at Enmore; Mr. Lynch, for Asburnham, Thrower for Macqunrio (both Labour candidates) maj' also .possibly be defeated. While the Liberals look like losing llathursi, Moxham (Liberal), has, improved his position at Parramatta, Though a second ballot is required in those electorates whore second ballots are needed, the, Liberals aro leading Labour by ton to three. Of tho total of ninety seats, including those where second ballots are required, Labour has won, or is leading in 48, tho Liberals have captured 43, and the Independents 4. "DllY" VOTE INCREASES. (Rec. December 8, 1.10 a.m.) Sydney, December 7, No official figures concerning tho NoLicense poll uro yet available, but it is known that not a singlo electorate voted tho traffic out, though tho "dry" voto will show an increase.