FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 258, 16 December 1903, Page 3

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

THE RIVAL LEADERS' LAST EFFORTS. Received 13, 10.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 16. Mr Deabin makes a final appeal to the Commonwealth electors to vote for fiscal peace and preferential trade as against his opponents programme of negation uik! ik'St ruction. Mr G. H. Reid appeals to free trade aicd Liberal electors to vote against the united forces of protection.

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE. Received 16, 0.6 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 15. The streets have a crowded appearance to-night, the test mp,tch alnH to-morrow's elections dividing honojjrs as subjects of most importance. The newspaper offices are making great preparations for posting returns.

The c&mpaign generally has been marked by quiet, steady work, al\ parties keeping free from 1i t UTness, Although it is the eve oi the election there is apparently a difficulty in making anything like a definite forecast, the various press tips being 'according to fiscal leaning. The women's vote is a new and unknown factor, and in spite of many amid varied appeals to women to rise to their new responsibilities there is ground for believing that >a very considerable section will not lace the polling booth. Fiscal peace und preferential trade issues will undoubtedly comnt to some extent in Ministerialists' favour. There appears to be a fairly general opinion that the members of the various parties in the new Paiiiamjent will not be greatly altered so far as I 1 „\v South Wales is concerned. Ministerialists express confidence that tliey are able to hold their own, and perhaps gain a seat or two, whilst the Freetraders hopeful of gaining two, if not three, t-hougth they admit one is shaky. In more cases there is a possibility of vote splitting telling against Mr Reid's party. Great efforts are being made to capture Sir William Lyne's seat. The Laibour party is well organised and confident