FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3102, 5 June 1917, Page 5

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

' EXCITING FINISHES,LIKELY ' ~ STATE OF PARTIES Melbourne, May 29. . Practically all of the ordinary votes' that were polled in the recent election have now been counted, and save for. the addition of the soldiers' votes the' returns at nearly all electorates are nowat a standstill." The third batch of 1 soldier*' votes lias yet to bo' included by the district returning of-' licers in-the totals for each electorate,) yitd no fresh returns of any importance were- received yesterday l>v the Chief Commonwealth electoral Officer. Indeed, except in two or .three electorates, the contest is to all intents and purposes d.e-1 cided. l'uirther returns for the ilac-j (ju'arie seat (N.S.W.), where Mr. Carr (Coalition) is only nine- votes behind his; opponent, are still awaited from abroad.: The figures for Sunday's batch of sol-J <liers' votes have yet to be included here, and may put Mr. Can- well ahead. The \ oiFect of .the' overseas vote.* has also felt acutely at Brisbane, and may affect ; the issue there. How completely they; liavo changed the position so far is! shown by tlie fact that before any votes p from tho soldiers were received Mr. I'iu-', laysori (Opposition) was some 733 jvotes: ahead of the Coalition candidate. Sun-./ day's fiaurcs from London have reduced; tills lea"d to 69. Similarly at Moreton. (Q.) before the soldiers' vote was received Sir. Butler (Opposition). was 325 a haul of Mr. Sinclair, whereas now Juv Sinclair is '15 ahead, the totals Siuelair 16,100: Butler. IK.HS. At least' one further batch of soldiers' votes has. . to be received, and is expected about the middle of the week, or on Thursday, evening Siuce it does not appear likely. that the lwteU will be a very largo' one, it is evident that the "fimshea"<at Brisbane, Alacquarie, and Moreton are likely to provo exciting. With regard to the Queensland Semite, all three Keats havtl gone to the Coalition party apparently, ' „ thi> soldiers' votes received on bunday patting the Ministerial candidates some 9000 ahead. ," . , i Now that tho last soldiers votes quly arc awaited, it is interesting to etud.v the present state of tho House ef .Representatives, the figures having- altered somewhat in tho past jew weeks. In the tables given below it is assumed that the Macquario seat, N.S.W., will be won by the Coalition candidate, Mv. Ca""' and that the Brisbane seat will also bo ■ won by the Coalition candidate, but both tliese results are admittedly doubtful. Mr. Sinclair, for the Moroton seat, however, is well ahead. Including tho doubtful seats mentioned nudor tho heading Coalition, the following are tliemembers iu the new Wouse of Represei!tat,v(!S:- Coalition. Labour.'■ - Victoria u I Now Soutli Walse ... )8 » . •Queensland ' J Soutli Australia .-• « ' West Australia 5 0 ' Tasmania 5 , fl Total 55 20 *Jn Qu.eeiislaud the Brisbane seat aay go to tho Opposition. ,