Melbourne, Oct. 10, The bitterest election campaign {in the: history of the Commonwealth of Australia is drawing to a close.
The efforts of the Rt, Hon. S. M. Bruce, the Premier in the last ad-Jninistretion, to amend the compulsory Arbitration Acts, solidified the members of the Labour Party, and on the other hand the National-sts are divided by the Bruce-Hughes d The Nationalist Party formally disowned Mr. Hughes, who is opposed in North Sydney' by an official Nationalist candidate and by two Unofficial labour candidates.
Mr, Bruce is indefatigably.toMag. the five states by aeroplane, train, steamer and motor-car.
The leader of the Labour Party, Mr, Seullin, "and the Jeader of the Country Party, Mr. Earle Page, have been returned unopposed, Labour and Imperial Preference The ex-Premier of Queensland} Mr."Theodore, who is now a Federal Senator and the principal Labour exponent, enunciated a policy of Imperial Preference based on reci= probity and the des primary products, of the pulley by which Australian arud stock is exported to South 'Africa, Japan and elsewhere enabling' those' countries to compete with Australian wool.
The Government of Queensland appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the purchase of mining leases by Mr, Theodore's government in 192:
Br, Theodore, however, declare that the allegations made on thi subject during a recent' debate in the Queensland Assembly were only meant to discredit the Labour leadors on the eve of the election, Oct. 12, Early returns in the General Election, one of the bitterest in the story of the Commonwealth of Australia, indicate a decided swing favour of the Labour Party, 'The Premier in the last adnvinise tration, tie Rt, Hon, 8. 3 Hence, the' course of a statenions tox day, says: "We have been defeated, but we can take it Itke gentlemen"
message from Sydney states. that the Rt. Hon. William Morris Hughes, who wi eof Avs tralia from 1915 to. 1023, has been reflected for North Sydney by a huge majority.
The Nationalists, will be re. called, recently formally disowned
North Sydney an official Mr. Hughes, who wat opposed in Nationalist candidate and by two [alen Labour candidates—Reu-
Sydney, Oct, 13.
Labour has swept Australia in the Federal Election.
The state of the parties, as bled. yesterday, based on the returns then available, namely, 2,546, 000 out of a total of 8,500,000 voter enrolled. This total is not definite, but may be taken asa reliable forecast, Mr. Bruce's party, the Nation. alists, have been overwhelmed and Mr. Bruce himself is likely to lose 'Many Ministers have been defeated, but the so-called' rebel" Nationalist, Mr. W. M, Hughes, has been re-elected by a large majority.
The leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Scullin, is expected to form Labour Government, with the 4 puty-leader of the party, Mr, Theodore, one-time Premier of Queenland, ay Treasurer.
Crowds wildly cheered the results of the election as they were announced by Toud-speakers outside newspaper offices.
The declaration by Mr. Hughes in the course of an election address, that Mr, Bruce had delivered the death-blow to the Nationalist Party by his "impetuous attack" upon the Compulsory Arbitration Act, has proved accurate. It was the oppo: tion of Mr., Brace to this act, he made efforts to amend, that caused the breach between him and Mr, Hughes and other Nationalists.
The Labour landslide is considered the greatest party victory ever recorded in Australia. Members of the Labour Party and their followers are delighted, while Mr. Bruce's The Senate, however, remains solidly Nationalist, Senators are lected for a term of six years and half of them retire every three years. Their Inst election was in 1928, Mr. Scullin, the leader of the Latour Party, will, therefore, be unable to carry any extremist legislation, bat he will be able to demand the dissolution st both Houses of Parliament if any measure is rejected in two consecuti Melbourne, Oct. 13.
Pattiament will probably re. assemble between November 13 and November 20, The "Daily Herald" Pleased London, Oct. 14.
Commenting upon the election results the "Daily Herald," in a leading article this morning, exclaims "Well done Australia."
The paper says that Mr. Scullin and his colleagues will bring to the new type of Imperial problem—"gocuring world peace—a new type of Imperial mind.
The Sydney correspondent of the "Fi Times" says that Labour's sensational victory has caused perturbation in financial circles as it is uncertain how far the new Government will go in pursuit of the Party's declared financial policy regarding loan raising, reconstruction, the Commonwealth Bank, ete—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.