FEDERAL POLLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1919, Page 7

FEDERAL POLLS.

THE LATEST RESULTS. IMPqaTAKCE OP FARMERS* PARTY. ft Ttleetttii.—-Pro* Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. It, IUO pjn. Sydney, Deo. 16. As the counting progresses it becomes more apparent that the Farmers' representatives will be a very important factor ja the new federal Parliament, holdtag the balance of power. Their position has improved since yesterday. They are bow holding four teats and leading in seven second preference votes in three electorates, where Labor was leading, and win probably result in the return of three further Farmers' candidates. Tie latest election returns to the House are:— Natlona&t ............ 31 Labor .....*-,-. ..*.. 22 Fanners 3 ' There are 19 doutbful seats, probably resulting, Natiee&list 9, Labor 5, Earner* 5. In the referenda *No" is still leading, except in Victoria and Queensland T waste- "Yea" is leading on both questions', and West Australia where "Yes" is leading on monopolies. The Senate voting now snows the possibility of the "whole 18 vacancies being ' rUtod by Nationalists. Waßaee, a laborite, who surrendered - the tn|e West Sydney nomination to Mr. was defeated for NepeanSmall as the referendum figures still are, thair trend ia such that it is practically a foregone conclusion that, the proposals will be defeated. Apparently the electorate has accepted the conclusion that Mr. Hughes already possesses, or can take, sufficient power tinder the constitution to deal adequately with the natters desired without further extension of powers.