FEDERAL POLL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21225, 23 September 1940, Page 8

FEDERAL POLL

WINS FOR LABOUR GOVERNMENT IN LEAD ■United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 22 The loss of four Government seats to Labour, with good prospects of Labour winning six other Government seats, and the loss of three Labour seats to the Government was the conclusion reached when the counting of votes in the Federal election ceased early this morning. There was a possibility that two other Labour seats might also go to the Government. If Labour wins all the seats in which there is doubt it would have a majority in the House of Representatives. A gain of seven seats for Labour would place the parties as follows:—Labour, 39; United Australia Party and United Country Party, However, the position is so doubtful at present that the Government may be returned, but with only a small majority. There was a definite swing to Labour in New South Wales, but this was not apparent in the other States. Reverse for “ New Blood ” An outstanding feature of the polling was the reverse suffered by the “ new blood ” candidates who stood under the United Australia Party banner. It appears that the Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, will secure an absolute majority in his electorate, Kooyong, but the Postmaster-General, Mr H. V. Thorby, will probably lose his seat at Calare. The seats of all other Ministers seem to be safe, even that of Sir Frederick Stewart, at Parramatta, who was hotly opposed because of his administration of the Ministry of Supply. He has a good majority. The former Premier of New South Wales, Mr B. S. B. Stevens, who was hailed by the United Australia Party as a coming Federal Treasurer, failed badly against the sitting Labour member for the Lang electorate. Dr. H. V. Evatt, K.C., who resigned from the High Court Bench to enter politics, defeated the United Australia Party candidate in the Barton electorate by a comfortable figure. Mr Curtin’s Seat Doubtful The seat of the leader of the official Labour Party, Mr J. Curtin, at Fremantle, is doubtful, although he at present has a lead of 800 votes. The Government has lost the Henty seat in Victoria to an Independent, Mr A. W. Coles, who is Lord Mayor of Melbourne, but he is expected to support the Government. The seat was previously held by Sir Henry Gullett, who was killed a few weeks ago in the Canberra air crash. Apparently Labour has retained only two of the four seats which it held in Tasmania. Darwin is likely to be retained by Colonel G. J. Bell, Speaker of the House. The Leader of the Country Party, Mr A. G. Cameron, has a substantial lead over two other candidates for his electorate of Barker, in South Australia. In this State Labour has lost one seat to the Country Party, but the sitting members are likely to retain the other South Australian seats. The newly-formed New South Wales Labour Party made a poor showing. The leader, Mr J. R. Hughes, came a bad last of three Labour candidates in the Reid electorate. The seat will probably be won by the sitting Non-Communist Labour member, Mr J. H. Gander. The former Minister of Customs, Mr J. N. Lawson, will probably be defeated in Macquarie by the official Labour candidate, Mr J. B. Chiffley. Government’s Desperate Bid The Government’s desperate bid to regain Corio, which was won by Labour when Mr R. G. Casey went to America as Australian Minister, failed. The former Davis Cup tennis player, Mr Gerald Patterson, carried the Government’s banner, but his polling was 'not heavy. Influence of Soldiers’ Votes Labour expects to gain considerably from the soldiers’ votes. Mr J. A. Beasley, leader of the Non-Ccmmunist Labour Party, has won West Sydney. Mr E. S. Spooner, who, like Mr Stevens, resigned from the New South Wales Assembly to contest the Robertson electorate, has a good chance of displacing the sitting member, Mr S. L. Gardner. Both stood in the interests of the United Australia Party. The Federal Treasurer, Mr P. C. Spender, had a clear-cut win at Warringah.

The Senate results are not likely to be known for a fortnight, or possibly longer.