AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1922, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

tUSTRALIAX AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. A SMALL POLL. (Received this dnv at 10.30 a.in.) SYDNEY. Dec 18. , One of the outstanding features of. the polling was the remarkable apathy disclosed by the results to hand. The 1 ''Chief Electoral officer is astounded and says there never was such a small percentage polled within bis recollection. There will be very little in excess of. fifty per cunt, against seventy-five per-j cent .last elections. The figures arc i still too indefinite to determine the. state of parties which largely depended on the redistribution of preference votes. These will not be counted until the postal and absentee votes are received which will defer the finality for the. greater part of a week. The Nomadic vote is regarded as likely to nivo most support to country- candi- , dates, as rural life compels frequent j absence from home. Both Nationalist nnd labour, leaders claim the strongest ii-arlv in the new Parliament, but the fmiiru-) to date indicate Labour with over thirty .will have the distinction. Speculation lias also commenced regarding the po--abilities of a iuissoll lietwecin Nationalist and ( oimtry partin. .but judging by the hitter < eminent exchanged by both leaders on the progress result, an alliance dues not look to have rosy chances, under present conditions. It is suggested m some questions that tin* _ Country Party would support the .Nationalisl Partv with a new leader. Otherwise it would give trouble till a fresl. election is ordered. LATEST FIGURES. SYDNEY. Dec Ib. The present iiuleliniteness ot the prsitino and possibilities from P'M*-' I '- ■ oii-o votes are indicated by the .'lot lime Herald’s” summary ot results to detc which gives the .witumal-isU twenty-live scats .Labour twonty-tuo. Country Party eight, Liberals two. doubtful 18. , : t The. "I)nilv Telegraph contents itself with predicting that the new House will consist of Nationalists. , . (labour 39. Country Party Lb Llboias 3. Independent 1. . The latest figures considerably - proved the position of M-,s„ev Greene, but Poyntou i- still •> ir g way in tin* rear. H.ggs appeals beiitun. Liberals hopes -ore bad - crushed, wii’u poor chances th.it .a hour returns will improve mattci. 111 For three Wsetralian seats m the Senate a Labourite and two Nationalists are leading.

COMMENT ON POLLINGReceived this day at '--Ci P 1 "- SYDNEY. December 18. ■(•ho “Herald” attributes the apathy of the electors and permitting of Labour gains to the idiotic, ill-Joumled antipathy between the Nationalist and Country I’irtcs, causing disgust among their supporters. H says unless the country party is prepared to give support to Mr Hughes, be had better lace the matter early and again appeal to the country. The “Telegraph” says the ical fight was between socialism and anti-social-ism. Only the folly of the :int i-So: i list parties themselves in the new House can roh them of the fruits of victory. ■MELBOURNE, December. 18. The “Age” says the new Parliament will consist of four parties and the dictatorship of one man, with a narrow, but docile majority, is no longer possible. It expects Mr Hughes to resign without meeting Parliament HI Hill 1 MMJ