AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3441, 22 March 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. Received 10.30 a.ra. SYDNEY, this day. The State parties are: Labour 43, National 34, Progressive 8, doubtfnl 5. So far only the first preference votes have been counted. Absent and postal votes are unavailable, bu't there is every Indication that Labour will not have more than 45 seats, enabling tlie Nationalists to carry on with the aid of the Progressives. Only 50 per cent of the electors voted, and seven per cent of the votes cast were informal. All the Ministers, except Mr Holman, appear safe. The features were the rejection of all Socialist women candidates, and the failure of the Soldiers’ and Citizens 7 party. Should Mr Holman be defeated, two elected Nationalists have offered to resign in his favour, but the new Act under which the elections are held makes no provision for a bye-election until the new Parliament approves of the necessary formalities.

Received 10.30 'a.m. ADELAIDE, Ihis day. Sniled: W:1il101':1. for New Z0l113.I1(l. M.Iu‘I.BOURNIL‘, this day. Arrived. Puloona, from Wellington. The Ropzltrialion Bill before. the House of Rep:-eséntativcs increases pensions to totally inca.pacit:ated sold—iers to £4 weekly, exclusive of pensions for wife and children. It is unofiic-.i:lll_v stated the Government. has docidml to relinquish control of coastal Shipping.