Mr. Menzies' Victory
Though the last results in the Australian elections are tantalisingly long in coming in, which is not surprising in a country in which the population is so scattered, the general picture is fairly clear, Mr. Menzies has achieved the purpose of his double dissolution, but it has been what the Duke of Wellington called a damned close-run thing. The Liberal- Country Party coalition has a reduced majority in the House— it will probably be about 16, as against 27 before the dissolution, but in a Chamber of 121 members a margin of 16 is enough. The essential question was whether the Government could capture the Senate, which, with a Labour majority of eight before the dissolution, was consistently refusing to pass Govern- ment legislation. That that majority will disappear is certain. What is doubtful is whether the Government will secure a majority of two, or four, or do no better than tie. With Queensland and Western Australia swinging to the Government side, a clear majority, small but sufficient, is probable. That will enable the Government to take whatever measures it desires to take against the Communists who have been damaging the industry of the country so successfully, so far as the Constitution permits. But in view of the disallowance of anti-Communist legislation by the Supreme Court during the last Parliament the Prime Minister is likely to seek a referendum to endorse an amendment to the Constitution.
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