THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1917, Page 4

THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

A Nationalist Victory.

Big Majority for Hughes.

SYDNEY, May 6th

The weather was fine for the Federal Elections and the voting was generally solid. The figures in no instance as complete, but when the counting ceased at midnight-it was sufficiently advanced-for the House of Representatives concerned to place a big Nationalist victory beyond all doubt. As for the Senate, some days will have to elapse before the count shows anything like finality, but the Nationalists bunohes in all States are leading with such margins as to make.the Nationalists hope of winning the required majority in the Upper House most promising.

The Postal and Soldiers votes hare still to be taken into account, and it will probably be something like a fortnight before the soldiers’ votes are available.

The incompleteness of the returns and the probability of very considerable .alteration makes it impossible to state the position with any exactness. On the present figures a rough approximation of the probables for the House of epresentatives iy:—Nationalists 47, P.L.L. 22, doubtful 6. Excepting Mr. Webster, the Postmaster General, who has considerable leeway to make up all the Ministers are apparently safe. Mr. Hughes’ faith in abandoning liiy old love, West Sydney for Bendigo was well placed, and he secured a thumping majority, while Mr. Cook had a runaway victory at Paramatta. Mr. Catts romped in. A number of seats are likely to change hands, the P.L.L. looks like capturing two or three of the New South Wales seats, while Mr. Tudor admits that three Labour seats in Victoria appear to have gone to the Nationalists. As regards the Senate the outstanding feature is the probability of the Nationalists capturing the three Victorian seats'. For the third seat in Now South 'Wales previously held by Labour the Nationalist candidate hold s a good lead. However, the Senate figures presents a mere dribble compared with the finals.