Lyons Government Returned

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 27, 26 October 1937, Page 5

Lyons Government Returned

Presa Assn.—

FEDERAL ELECTIQNS But Labour Gains in Senate May Upset Balance MINISTER FACES DEFEAT

(B* Telegraph—

Coovright.:

(Received 26, 8.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 25. Although the Lyons Government 's position in the House of Representatives is assured following the Federal elections — its former majority of 18 is-*' likely to be reduced by no more than three or four seats — the latest Senate figures indicate that Labour may sweep the Senate polls in all States. If this happens, their majority in that Chamber will be two, which, it is feared, may produce a first-class constitutional crisis. However, as the new senntors will not be eligible to tak)efcheir seats in the next Parliament before July, Mr Lyons 's Government will be able to carry on in tbe meantime without fear of a hostile Senate. The State of parties in the House of Representatives, on present figures, appears to be: — United^A-ustralia Party 26 United Uountry Party ....... 15 Labour 28 Doubtful - 5 Of the five doubtful seats the Sydney Morning Herald expeets Labour will win two, and thus the Government will have a majority of 14 instead of 18, as in the last House. The Daily Telegraph expeets that the Government will lose only one seat to Labour, but the Labour Daily says the Labour Party is likely to annex five seats from the Government. .. Return Creates History Mr Lyons 's Teturn to office for a third occasion creates history in Federal politics. The Sunday papers regard

tlie result as a blow to the Lang ]slec> tion of the Labour Party. Despite Mr Paterson 's loss of popu« larity over the handling of the Freer case, he will be returned. My Lyons, interviewed, said he was certain that, had not the false issue of conscription been raised, the Governmen's position would have been stronger tbau it is. Broadcasting from his home at Devonport, Mr Lyons said: "I take the vote as an endorsement of the Government 's policy of co-operation with Britain in the interests of world peace. " The Social Credit Pai'ty's nominees pooled poorly, receiving fewer than 100,000 votes out of a total eniolment of nearly 4,000,000, and the Communists polled fewer than 20,Q00. The Minister of Defence, Sir Archdale Parkhill, appears certain to be defeated by tbe barrister, Mr P« C. Spender, who was the unofficial United Australia Party candidate. Only the distribution of preferences, which will begin when the postal and a-bsentee votes are in hand, will decide the issue. Mr Lyons has a substantial majority in the Wiimot electorate, and Mr J. Curtin, the Federal Labour leader, is similarly situated at Fremantle. Ministers witbout portfolio, Mr Thorby in Clare and Mr Hunter in Maranoa, are hard pressed. Mr Thorby has a slight lead, but Mr Hunter is nearly 3000 behind the Labour candidate, Mr R. Radford, though Mr Hunter expeets tq win on the rural votes, The Senate Position The prospect appears to be tbat Labour 's representation in the Senate will be increased from tbree to 12. There is a possibility that Labour will have even greater representation, and in that event there will be important political repercussions. The 17 Senators who did not retire wero all Government supporters. Labour 's success in the Senate eampaign is described as inexplicable — inexplicable except that it may be due to the fact that they adopted an ingenioug plan of selecting candidates whose names in each instance began with the letter "A.," which. brought them into the one group on top of the ballot-papers, were they were more likely to obtain a preponderance. of primary votes and early prefereuces of the unwary electors. If the plan does succeed, three Ministers will be defeated — the Minister of External Affairs, Senator Sir George Pearce; the Postmaster-General, Senator McLaehlan; and the assistant-Min-ister, Senator T. C. Brennan. The Senate count will not be completed for some days. The party strength in the last Federal House of Representatives, was as follows: — United Australia Party 31 United Country Party i...... 15 Labout -.*>>*■» » i n.t 28 ^