THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 317, 31 May 1913, Page 5

THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

LABOR'S PROSPECTS. A FORECAST. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Received 30, 7.20 p.m. •Sydney, May 30. The leaders of both political parties, in their final flutters, used the Privy Council's dismissed appeal in the Coal Vend case as an argument in their favor, Mr. Hughes claiming that it proved the need of the greater powers asked for by referenda. Mr.' Cook said that it was the weakest argument conceivable against the referenda. As polling is open till 8 o'clock and the counting stops at midnight on Saturday, very few complete returns, even for the House of Representatives, will be available before Monday, while it will lie some days before the Senate and referenda figures'give anything like a true idea of .the position. Forecasting where the whole Commonwealth is involved is very difficult. Both sides have conducted a vigorous, tend systematic campaign. labor's excellent organisation aagin lias been apparent. The Labor leaders are fairly confident of being able to sit tight so far as the electorates are concerned, "but are less confident over the referenda. , The Liberals, backed ty a strong appeal from the employers against hobbling industry, are confident of defeating the : referenda, and,consider their, chance of winning the electorates much improved I>y the large floating vote, especially that of the women, which last election went'to labor, heingturnea as a result of the big. advance-in Tents and the cost of living during the Labor regime. They also "count upon the late epidemic of strikes and the Government's attitude thereon winning them some previ6us direct labor votes. The /bulk of the fight will be straightout, and it is anticipated that the altered "boundaries under the amended Electoral Act will be responsible for some surprises. It is not unlikely that spoilt votes will form an appreciable quota, as, "besides voting for both Houses, the electors have to answer no fewer than six referenda questions.' Summing up, the preponderance of opinion appears to favor Labor squeezing back, with the referenda ruled out j