WEST AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 2919, 15 September 1908, Page 5

WEST AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

POSITION OF MINISTRY ASSURED. LABOUR POLLS WELL. deceived September 14, 9.53 a.m. PERTH, September 14. There are a few more election returns to come, but the position of the Ministry is assured. Labour polled well. Eierht members in the former Parliament lost seats. Received September 15, 1 a.m. PERTH, September 14. Mr Gregory, Minister of Mines, has been defeated.

Writing the other day, the Perth correspondent of the Melbourne "Age" regarded the return of the present Ministry as certain. There wire hardly any issues in the campaign. "The Labour Party's complaint is a re-echo of the English one of sixty years ago—that the Tories caught the Whiga bathing, and 3tole their clothes," Said the c rresnondent. "Labour leaders complain that the Miniitty stole their policy nearly three years ago, and have not given it up yet. There are, however, some points of difl'erecne. The Government will roimpose the land tax of Id in the pound on the unimpioved value of unimproved land, with rebate of Ad in respect to improved land. The Opposition want the tax increased. The Ministry keep to their income tax of 4d in the pound, with a £2OO exemption; while Labourites advocate a graduated tax and £250 exemption. The Govern--4 merit will propose a reduction of the Council franchise qualification from £25 to £ls or £lO. The Opposition demand household suffrage. The Government intends to vigorously prosecute its policy of light agricultural railway construction to enable settlers to get their produce to market, supply the food requirements of the State without importation, and thus reduce the cost of living."