MR CURTIN GRATEFUL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1943, Page 4

MR CURTIN GRATEFUL

FOR DEMONSTRATION OF CONFIDENCE COMMENT ON ELECTION RESULT. ' l REDUCTION IN MR MENZIES’S 1 MAJORITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. ■ The latest figures show that Mr Curtin polled 34,304 votes in Fremantle, against 18,456 polled by his two opponents. Nothing better indicates the smashing success of his Government than this result in Mr Curtin’s own constituency, where three years ago he had to fight hard to win by 641 votes. Mr Curtin, in an interview, said the people had broadly endorsed his administration at a period when the nation was in grave peril. He deeply appreciated this demonstration of confidence and all the members of the Government would do their utmost to justify the trust reposed in them. Mr Menzies’s seat is safe, though his majority is reduced. ALL SIX STATES APPARENTLY CARRIED BY LABOUR. IN ELECTIONS TO SENATE. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Labour Senate teams now seem certain to have carried all six Australian States. Only a block service vote against the Government could alter this result —and there are indications that the service vote will follow the same marked trend as the civilian. For this reason most of the seats still regarded as doubtful are expected to go to Labour. Evidences of the extent of the swing towards the Curtin Government appear in each State. In Western Australia, Labour is expected to gain two seats, with a third possible. In New South Wales, where many ■ observers considered that Labour representation was at its peak, the Government has gained six seats certain and may gain another. In Victoria, one gain is certain and two others are possible. South Australia may go entirely to Labour, with three seats at present certain gains, one probable and one possible. In Queensland the position is expected to be unchanged, but Labour gained votes and the only returns from small country centres are expected to save the seat of the Opposition Leader, Mr Fadden. In Tasmania one Labour gain is certain and one possible. The Government's Senate win in all States, giving it a majority of 22 to 14, will be effective after the end of June, 1944, and means that Miss Dorothy Tangney, of West. Australia, a 32-year-old school teacher, will be the first woman ever to sit in the Australian Senate. Of 338 candidates for the House of Representatives, 153 will probably lose their deposits of £25 each —a record total of £3,825.

The new Australian Federal Parliament will probably meet for the first time on September 23. A Labour caucus will choose the new Cabinet a few days earlier.

“As a whole, Australians want to get on with the war and a great majority of them decided that a mandate for Mr Curtin was the most effective way of doing so,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald” editorially today. Political commentators generally warn that the Australinan Conservative parties must find a new policy, leadership and personnel. Apart from his own personal prestige, Mr Curtin’s other great election trump card was the disunity and lack of talent in the Opposition. “Men who might have stopped the rot were never given a chance as leaders,” says the "Telegraph’s” political correspondent. “The tragedy of this election lies in the fact that the huge swing to Labour looks like robbing the Federal Parliament of some men who really had something to offer.”