FEDERAL BY-ELECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1940, Page 5

FEDERAL BY-ELECTION

SUBSTANTIAL LABOUR LEAD SWING OF NEARLY 5000 VOTES. COMMENT BY MR MENZIES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE. March 3. With only 2000 votes to count, Labour is leading in the Corio by-election by 3454 votes. The large majority is surprising even to Labour supporters, the figures being: J. J. Dedman (Labour), 25.207; V. Smith (United Australia Party), 21,753; Dr G. P. O’Day (Communist). 1411. The result means a swing of nearly 5000 votes to Labour since last election. when Mr Casey, now Minister in Washington, won by GOOD. Whereas the Government had majorities in nine of 14 sub-divisions last election, it had only five this time. There were 53,000 on the roll. The Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, said tonight that local side issues had apparently counted largely in the result. The majority of Labour speeches left the audience unaware there was a war on. The influence of the threat of unemployment which was directed from every Labour platform to everyone in the Ford works and those directly and indirectly dependent on them was enormous. Another reason for the Government’s defeat was the. enormously increased industrialisation of Geelong. The result indicated that the Government, far from being behind public opinion in relation to the war, was ahead of it. He did not doubt that more and more as the war proceeded the Australian people would follow the Government’s policy. "Nobody abroad need have any doubt that when the crucial moment comes Australia will be there,” he said. . Mr Dedman said the swing to Labour definitely showed disapproval of the Government’s policy.