ANOTHER ELECTION IN AUSTRALIA?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 29, 28 October 1937, Page 5

ANOTHER ELECTION IN AUSTRALIA?

-Press ASsn.-1-Copyri«iitJ

. i ii ii n ■ Labour Majority in Senate May Compel It BALLOT-PAPER TACTICS

(By Telegrapb-

(Keceived 28, 1U.4U a.m,; SYDNEY, October 27. It is reliably reported that the Government will seek a double diseolution and another electiofl iiext year lf Labour achieves a majority in the Senate, which comprises 36 seats. Rai'ty reports to the Prime Minister indicate that thousands of electors were confused by the grodping systeln on the Senate ballot papers, on which Labour' s group Was shown on the top except in Queensland, resuiting in the eiectors simply numbering from top to bottom in meohanical fashion, Wlthout regard to the true order of preference. Tho Governnfent has determined to amend the system so that alphabetical nominations will confef tio advaiifage to Senate candidates in the future, The approximate state of the parties in the different States at the Federal elections is: — NEW SOUTH WALES. tJnited Australia ... ... ... 11 , (Jnited Country ... 5 Labour ... 12 V1CTOR1A. Uniied Australia ... 9 United Country i„ ... „„ ... 4 Labour ... ... gi. ... ... 5 Doubtful 1 QUEENSLAND. United Australia ... ... ... 6 United Country ... ... ... 3 Labour 5 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. United AUStralja ... ... ... 2 United OouUtry 2 LaboUr 1 Doubtful ... ... ... ... 1 WESTERN AUSTRALIA. United Australia ... 1 United Country ,.. ... ... ... 2 Labour ... ... ... 2 TASMANIA. United Australia ... ... ... 2 United Country ... ... ... 0 Labour ... ... ... ,... 3 TOTALS, United Australia «... 28 United Country ... ... . ... 16 Jjabour ... ... ... ... 28 Doubtful ,f. ,2 There are stiil a oonsiderable number of primary Votes yet to be counted, mr lyons indicates reform of senate election (liccoived 28, lU.od a.nx.) SYDNEY, Oct. 28. Tho position of parties in tho House of Represcntativos is uiichanged, The Minister of Defence* Sir Archdale Parkhill, has slightly improved his posi* tion in Warringah, but an unofflciat check of preference votes has led United Australia Party authorities to believe that in the final count he will be beaten by Mr Spencef, K.O., by about 500 votes. The Government Senate team in Queensland has an aggregj|te lead of 4572 votes over the Labour group, There is no indication of how the preference of the Social Credit group will be cast. The GOvernment group in Sotlth Atu*1 tralia has a lead of 359 votes over Labour. Spealcing at Melbourne, the Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, said he considefed that he had a deflnite mandate to proceed with the appointment of a seleCt eoinffiittee td considef the questiOn of refOfni of the system of votittg for the Senate.