FEDERAL POLLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1919, Page 5

FEDERAL POLLS.

PARTIES ABOUT EQUAL. THE RETURNS INCOMPLETE. By Telesraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 13, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 13. The weather is fine and voting is proceeding briskly. There is every indication of a heavy poll.~Aus.-N:Z. Cable Assn. . Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 14. Owing to the delay caused by preferential voting, incomplete figures preclude a reliable forecast regarding the strength of parties in the Federal elections. Both sides express satisfaction with the present results, but there seems to be every possibility that the Nationalists will secure a working majority in the House of Representatives. Despite this an attempted analysis shows:— Seats. Labor ...r.-> . 38 Nationalists 31 Farmers' Party 6 Messrs. W. M. Hughes (the Federal Premier), T. J. Ryan, F. C. Tudor, and Sir Joseph Cook appear safe. The Senate vote indicates that Messrs. Russell, Webster and Poynton may lose their seats.

The New South Wales referendum figures on the legislative powers proposal are:—Yes, 780; No, 2167. On the monopolies proposal*he figures are: Yes, 099; No, 2078. Inter-State returns are not available.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, Received Dee. 15, 12.55 a.m. Sydney, Dec. 14. Although the exact figures are not available at a late hour to-night, the latest returns indicate that the position of the parties is about equal. It is impossible to forecast the result of the referendum on legisaltive powers, the latest figures being: Yes, 51,555; no, 74,336. On the mbnopolies question, the latest figures ore: Yes, 45,027; no, 69,127. A CANDIDATE ATTACKED. Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.jn. Hobart, Dec. 14. Mr. Laird Smith, a Nationalist candidate for Denißon, was brutally attacked while attempting to address a crowd in the centre of the city. Eggs and stones were thrown, and windows were broken. The police dispersed the mob. Mr. Smith was sent to hospital in a serious condi-tion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.