STILL IN DOUBT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1940, Page 5

STILL IN DOUBT

♦ RESULT OF THE FEDERAL ELECTION MR CURTIN’S SURPRISE WIN. AFTER SERIOUS EARLY SETBACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 29. The most surprising development during the weekend checking of absent and postal votes and the distribution of preferences in the 12 doubtful contests in the recent Federal elections was the last-minute victory of the Labour leader, Mr Curtin, in Fremantle by 522 votes, mainly because of the good support he received from the soldiers. Mr Curtin has ascertained that the Communists in Western Australia hurled a block vote of 6000 against him, causing his early setback. There are still a number of seats definitely in doubt, of which Labour needs five in order to deprive the Government of a working majority. It appears to have an excellent chance of winning four, if not five. On the other hand, the Government’s campaign directors express the opinion that the Government parties will finally win out with a majority of two or three. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT - ADVOCATED BY SIR E. PAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Sir Earle Page, a former leader of the Australian Country Party, has issued a statement urging the immediate formation of an All-Australian Government of the best brains, as Australia’s war position is too critical to permit of,a stalemate government, arising out of the elections. He advocated the centralisation of the headquarters of the Government at Canberra, a review of the external exchange position and the making available of Australian naval bases to the United States Navy.