RETURN EXPECTED

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1940, Page 8

RETURN EXPECTED

MENZIES GOVERNMENT Sydnty, Sept. 23. On the lafcest returns the Sydney Morning Herald expects the Menzies Government to be returned with a majority reduced from 10 to 8. The Daily Telegraph says the latest count indicates that the Government is likely to retain office with a majority of at least three seats. The Herald gives the State of the parties as: — U.A.P 23 Country Party 14 Labour 30 Doubtful 7 The latest count increases the probability of the defeat of Mr. Curtin in Fremantle. His opponent is now only 34 votes behind. The blame fqr the reversal is attributed partly to overconfidence by Mr. Curtin's immediate supporters and partly to Labour's refusal to join the War Cabinet. Mr. Menzies said the election must be regarded as a clear mandate to prosecute the war with the utmost vigour. Mr. Curtin said the results suggested that the Government had not had conclusive testimony of the public opinion In view of his likely defeat he deputed Mr. Forde, deputy leader, to speak on behalf of the Labour Party. The Daily Telegraph's Melbourne correspondent says that fresh overtures to the Labour Farty to form a national government will be made by Mr. Menzies as a result of the elections. The Senate count is still too limited to make any accurate forecast. The Government may return its Senate candidates in every State but New South Wales, which is the only State in which Labour has a lead in the votes counted so far. It appears likely that three Labour senators will be returned in New South Wales. The Government candidates are well ahead in all other States. It is likely that Government candidates will be returned for all of the seats in these States. This would return 16 senators supporting the Government and three supporting Labour. The Senators who did not retire were 14 Labour and three Government. The new Senate therefore is likely to be: — Government 19 Labour 17 If, however, > the Government loses its majority in the Senate the possibility of a double dissolution later arises. This problem will not have to be faced immediately because the retiring senators will not complete their term until June 30 next. The Government has regained the Wil-

mot seat in Tasmania, which was lost to | Labour when the former Prime Minister, | Mr. J. H. Lyons, died. I At the present time in the aggregate I official Labour has secured the majority ! of the votes cast. The total of informal votes will be high.