LABOUR ROUTED

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1932, Page 5

LABOUR ROUTED

IN VICTORIA

PREMIER’S PLAN ENDORSED

(Per Australian Press Association.)

MELBOURNE, May 15.

The Victorian State elections yesterday resulted in a complete; rout of the official Labour Party, and the voters gave an unqualified expression of Confidence in the Premiers’ ,Conference plan of rehabilitation, and in favour of the United Australia Party candir.. dates. (1 The composition o the new.Legislative Assembly will probably be ais follows :

United Australia Party ... 31

United Country Party 14 Official Labour Party 13 Unendorsed Labourites 2 Independents 2 Doubtful 4

The position of the Parties at the disso.ution was as follows;

United Australia Party ... 17

United Country Party ... ... 14 Labour Party ... 1;i ... 50 Independents ... ... ... 4 Mr J. W. McLachlan (independent) won the Gippsland North seat.

The Lnbour Party has lost Ballarat, Daudonong, Albert Park and Heidelberg, The Attorney-Genera), Mr Slater, is in grave danger of defeat, and the Assistant Minister of Labour, Mr AVebber’s chance of re-election is also {.negligible. • . :•••

The present indications are that the Labour losses will probably number fifteen seats, all of which go to the United Australia Party candidates.

Only one of the Independents, who wielded an important influence in the last- Parliament, is likely to be returned, namely, Mr James.

BIG GAIN FOR UNITED

DISASTROUS FOR LABOUR.

(Received this day at 8 a.tn.) SYDNEY, May 15

The latest returns for the Victorian elections indicate that the state of parties in the new Parliament will be: United Australia 32 Country Party 14 Official Labour 16 Unendorsed Labour 2 Independent 1 The following Ministers were defeated : —The Minister of Lands, Hon. Bailey; Assistant- Minister of Labour, Mr i Webber; Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Pbiard; while the Attorney-General, Mr Styteifj iiffia aiso ptobllbiy beeii defeated, Mr Hogan, the Premier, and Mr Tunueclifi'e, the- Acting-UreUlief, and other party lenders, were returned unopposed, The United Australia Party almost doubled its strength, having eighteen seats in the last Parliament, while now it has thirtytwo, gaining twelve from Labour, one from the Country Party, and one from the Independents.

The election has been disastrous from all aspects for the Labour Party which split on the non-endorsement of the Premier’s plan.

DEFEAT OF LABOUR

MR HOGAN’S EXPLANATION.

LONDON, May 15

Air Hogan, Premier of Victoria, who is in Europe, interviewed at Spa, said the immediate issue of the election wa>s the re-enactment of the Premiers plan during past biennium “I frequently warned Labour members of the Central Executive, and' Labour Conferences, that the electors would strongly disapprove of any failure by th 0 Government to effect economies, and Government expenditure during, my absence. Some Ministers and members were bluffed by the Ccnwiit Executive’s threat to expel them if they voted for the re-enactment of the Premiers’ pPan. They ignored my warnings, and by failing in their duty, flouted the constituents who consequently voted against them yesterday. The Central Executive’s threat intimidated Labour members, who oelieved the plan should be re-enacted, and also raised the important issue of whether Members of Parliament were not to do anything the. Central Executive ordered them not to, thus shattering the foundations of democracy; that members must bo free, and unfettered, acknowledging responsibility only to their constituents.

ft a'so shifted the •supreme power of government from the Phrlintnent in an outside body, and the star chain-

The e!ei ioi'is had to acquiesce,"m' Jdisaoprove of the sabotaging of democracy. It was a. foregone conclusion „„ such issues that. Labour candidates oveopt in a lew. strong industrial constituencies. should fa.ro badly at the polls. [!,, .-0.1: “Those Trades Hall officials Imd rr* ’.ssimited the Labour Government, ..ud online 1 the defeat of Labour eamlidafes at the '-.IK ecw know n|. • the D on 1 - think ef their pole-; and t liroiil,. Week- -s are left wf-H----ont ademi.at- representation in I’arliainent. The also know who is respoiisihle for the loss of the Labour Govcr"oieul.

‘•I regret (bat ‘"'no good members of flio party bare been sacrificed this way bV tile Trades Hall lUis-nts, imt JU gladiators were sacrificed bv Caligula and Nero at the cblosseum to

“make a. [Roman holiday.” Fifteen years of my work in building up the. Labour Party in the country has been undone. The support of the country electorates I have helped to win has been lost to Labour by the arrogance, stupidity, and disregard of public interest by the Central Executive. The electors have now authorised the reenactment of the Premiers’ plan, and given a reply to the threat published bv the Executive on April 9th. to .expel members voting for its re-enact-ment.” . , Mr Hogan has not decided when |>o is returning, but is continuing investigations into the marketing of products organisation and the AgencyGeneral, intending to report to the people of Victoria thereon.

225,000 MAJORITY FOR PLAN

EFFECT OF LANG DISMISSAL

(Recei 1 3d this day nt 10.15 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 16.

()f the 666,906 votes counted, 411,511 were cast for supporters of the Premiers’ plan, and 225,395 for Labour candidates opposed to the plan. The acting- Fn : mi or. Air Tunneclifi'e, stated: “The Labour Party lost more scats than most, members of the partv predicted, and, undoubtedly, the dismissal of tlm Lang .Ministry Imd its effect on - our position.”

Tim loader of the Opposition, Mr Argyle, said (hat the vote p'OvCd disastrous. ami the senseless polirwOt Air Lang did not appeal to working then in Victoria.

The-Ministry will probably’be out of office On Wednesday and it is expected (teq. \|r .Argyle will he commissioned the same day to form •> •' I-t-luMi'-b it now appears flirt the United Australia party h-s an jihsoln! > mai - d v lIVII' all oilier parties it is fell. that, as lln i:ni|.>.| Australia I‘arty an ! United Cmntrv Party presented a united front at the election tlm Country new .Ministry if it desires it.