BIGGER THAN EVER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1940, Page 5

BIGGER THAN EVER

GOVERNMENT MAJORITY IN CANADA AN EMPHATIC ELECTORAL VERDICT. CONSERVATIVE LEADER LOSES HIS SEAT. —— \ By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON. March 27. Canada’s verdict on yesterday’s general election has gone overwhelmingly in favour of Mr. Mackenzie King’s Liberal Government, which has been returned with a majority promising to exceed its record in 1935 of 178 seats.

With only 36 out of 245 seats remaining doubtful, Liberals now hold 166 seats. The next strongest party is Dr Manion’s National Government Party with 33 seats and other parties hold 10 seats. Contrasting with the Liberal triumph is the fate of Dr Manion himself, who has been/ defeated in Fort William by his Liberal opponent, Mr Mclvor. Most, if not all, Liberal Ministers in the last Government have been returned, but on the Conservative side there have been several surprising casualties.

In most districts the polling was normal, but in some areas in eastern Canada the polling was light as a result of snow-blocked roads. Rains have also affected the voting on the Pacific coast. It is not expected that the soldiers’ vote, the result of which will not be known till the middle of April, will greatly alter the result. A powerful Liberal stand in Eastern Canada is indicated. Dr Manion’s National Government Party has failed to carry out its threat of making sizeable gains between Prince Edward Island and Ontario, and the Liberals are solidly entrenched in the martime electorates, where they have lost only one of 26 seats.

The election was fought on the war effort issue and its outcome is that Mr Mackenie King, who has been Prime Minister for 13 years in all, will continue to direct that effort.

Daventry reports that the Canadian elections have resulted in the largest majority in Canada’s history for the Liberal Party. The latest returns show that the Liberals have 177 seats and the Conservatives or Nationalists 38. One result is deferred and five are still doubtful. It is probable that Parliament will meet early in May. Every Communist was defeated and the Social Credit Party retained only one of the 15 seats held in the last Federal Parliament. The results do not take into account the votes of soldiers overseas.