FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 87, 8 September 1914, Page 4

FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

SYDNEY PRESS COMMENTS. {By cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Sydney, September 7. Tho Sydney Daily Telegraph, in p. leader, says it is evident the result of the elections will be a change of Government at a time when continuity is of vital importance. It is to the last de- | gree regrettable that there should be a change of administration in the middle of the greatest crisis in history. It will not only embarrass the defence | operations, but the event will be seized j upon by tho Empire's enemies as tho , basis of further lies about the loyalty of j the Dominions. The German people will j probably be told that the Australian j Government nas been unseated for proI mising troops to assist the Mother CounJ try, and thus buoyed up with the hope i that England's oversea possessions are J disloyal. J Latest returns show that Labor has secured 41 seats and Liberals 30 seats, and four seats are doubtful. Interest J attaches to the return of two Germans, j Mr Lankel (Labor candidate for Bootbby, South Australia) and Mr Stumni. (Liberal.) Mr Lilley is having a hard light.

Melbourne, September 7. The Age asserts that now that the Cook Government lias been defeated, it is the duty of the Labor Party, while the war continues, to form & non-parti-san national administration.

i LIBERAL POSITION IMPROVES. Received 8, 1.5 a a.m. Sydney, August 7. Later but still incomplete returns htive improved the Liberal outtfook, | Bor ihii.vcir.inia, uoirio, and [Grampian.*! .!seats the Uibor Jeftds have been considj orably reduced, while for Wakefield and Lilley seats the Liberate have now good | leads and Boob like winning. In the Senate also the Liberals are -creeping |,up in New South Wales and South Australia, >but have lost ground in Tas- | mania. The Senate returns are capable of great alteration'