COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2263, 24 September 1914, Page 4

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

The recent Federal election in Australia provides a striking illustration of the fickleness of political fortune. A careful analysis of the situation goes to show that there was really very little alteration in the political sentiment of the oountry. The loss and gain of a little over two thousand votes decided whether the affairs of the Commonwealth should be managed by a Liberal or a Labour Ministry. . The Melbourne Argus points out that in five out of the six States the position is practically unchanged, while a mere handful of people in four Victorian electorates, together with Riverina, in New South Wales.' turned the scale in favour of Labour, The figures for the constituencies referred to are as follow:— Votes. Majority. Corio ' 31,201 659 Grampians 25.326 186 Indi 80,204 562 Gippsland 29,138 560 Riverina 25,752 240 Totals 1M.681 2,177 It was the loss of these five Beats that threw the Oook Government out of office—-1100 votee would have meant the defeat of the Labour Party. A very slight movement in public feeling- was sufficient to cause the Premiership to bo token from Mr. Cook and handed over to Mr. Fisher. It is a peculiar fact • that in Indi. Grampians, and Gippsland the highest' Liberal oandidate for the Senate polled better than the highest Labour candidate, and yet in each case Labour won the seat for the House of Representatives. This is one of those inexplicable things so often witnessed in political contests. In yiew of the strong Labour majority in the Senate, Mr. Cook is not likely, from the personal point of view, to regret his loss of office. Had he been able to retain his position the old wrangle between the two Houses would have been resumed, and the weary and unedifying battle against tho persistent obstruction ofithe Labour opposition would have gone on.