AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 255, 25 September 1940, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

14 DOUBTFUL SEATS.

ISSUE STILL NOT CERTAIN

SYDNEY, Sept. 24. The main interest in the election for the House of Representatives now centres in 14 seats in which the distribution of the preferences and the absentee votes may alter the existing position. Seven are m New boutn Wales, two in Victoria, three in Queensland one each in Western Australia and Tasmania. To-day’s checking of the . primary votes indicates. that the Government parties can be sure seats and idle Labour parties of . 27. . The decision in a lew of tlic 14 doubtful seats is unlikely to be known for some days and probably weeks. It is anticipated that the majority : of postal and absentee votes will favour the Government candidates, as in former years, but calculations can be completely upset by the preference of Independent candidates, which may favour either party. Keen interest is still focussed on the seat of the Official Labour Off position Leader (Mr Curtin) in Western Australia, where lie is making little headwav against what seem to b 5 unbeatable odds. The latest development is an offer bv the Labour candidate, Milt. James,' who represents tlie Hunter constituency; near Newcastle, New_ South Wales, to resign in favour of Mr Curtin in the event of the latter heing defeated. There is no confirmation of a report that Mr Green will resign the Kalgoorlie seat in favour of Mr Curtin.