FEDERAL GENERAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2248, 7 September 1914, Page 4

FEDERAL GENERAL ELECTIONS

SET-BACK TO THE LIBERALS

LIGHT POLLING

PUBLIC ABSORBED IN THE WAR

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. September {, 5.6 p.m.)

Sydnoy, September 5. JTjo weather is iino for the elections. The vote generally is light, the causes tor this being absorbing interest in the war, tlie abstention of Liberals who opposed the forcing on of the election, ana the abstention of Labourites who disapproved of an assault on the Administration at this juncture. The , newspapers did riot post the returns, • consequently street excitement Iras lacking when the counting ceased. ■At midnight none of the returns -were complete, but many were sufficiently, advanced to be unh'kely to be altered. Piesent indications are that the Cook Ministry is defeated, and .that Labour will secure a working majority in the House, though tho position is still capa)le_ of considerable change. On tie existing figures, including unopposed returns, Labour appears to have secured tlnrty-threo seats, and the Liberals twenty-three, while nineteen are doubtful. Tho members of the Ministry, Mr. lusher (Leader of the Labour Party), mid other leaders seem to bo safe. Tho Senate returns are insufficient to give any indication of tho result be.yond the fact that Labour is well holdtng its own. ' . ( (β-ec. September 7, 0.60 a.m.) Sydney, September 6. Later returns to-day indicate that Labour will probably capture from the Liberals the Riverina, seat In New South Wales. Mi, Oorio, Gjppsland, and Grampians eeats in Victoria, and the Wakeneld seat in' South Australia, and have good chances of capturing the Dumpier, seat in Westralia, and the Liloy seat in Queensland. ■ The Liberals have not captured-any. Substantial alterations, however, are still possible. Tho Labourites have won or hold safe positions in 37 electorates, and the Liberals in 27. While Labour is leading in a majority of casos, eleven ■seats are still doubtful. For the Senate Labour ia leading in ill the States excepting Tasmania, but it will be. several days before the figures are anything like complete. \ The position of Senator Milkn. (Minister of Defence) appears shaky on the present showing.