Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1919. BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9491, 3 January 1919, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1919. BRITISH ELECTIONS.

duller deiaiLfj of the polling' at the British general elections- disclose various surprises, and it is a sufficient comment on the "first past ihe post" system of election to note that although the Coalitionist candidates secured a huge majority of seats in the new House, their aggregate vote, was but 5,028,000 "to 4,330,000. As usual a large 'proportion—nearly .lialf—of",the euiWnchtsed did not. •vote, Londoners and the Scots ■shirking' their responsibilities .most. The manner in which the women vqtod, once niore proved that there is little cause to'lhink that the sex cannot be trusted to use their intelligence as well ns men use theirs, and it is to be regretted that the new House of; Commons will not include some women members. iTrs Pankliurst, whose .war work has caused her earlier excesses to be forgiven, put up a good fight at Smetbwick against the Laboui' candidate, but most of the women candidates fared very badly. Mr Lloyd George would exhibit real statesmanship if he arranged for the election of some of the more notable women politicians, of his political colour to the House: doubtless some of those men elected for Coalition strongholds would retire gracefully in the ladies' favour, especially if the}* were tempted, "by seats in the Lords. The Siii'n Feiners have expressed a determination not to visit Westminster, and. the Irish problem has been made no less difficult by recent eyents. ' Ob-' viously, the constituencies in Great Britain which formerly supported the Nationalists', in their demands, have abandoned much ql this sympathy, nor is this surprising, 'considering the mistaken ."tactics regarding military service during the war car-1 ried on by those who, claimed to speak for Ireland. It is certain that the new; Cabinet will stand little nonsense from the Sinn Feiners.. British Xfabour. has.' been taught not: to put its trust in Bolshevism, and/Labour circie.s nearer home should take notice of this, if they wish to avoid similar disaster. The overwhelming of the British pacifists and extremists cannot be explained away; the vast majority of workers realise that Bolshevism is no good to the poor. Most overseas people will be glad that the British electors' verdict was in favour of those who advocated r. strong war policy and what Is equally important, a strong pea.,o policy, but - such gratific t tiorj will not be increased by the success of patriots lik<j Messrs ~i\ni« berton Billing and Horatio Boltomly. Both men have talent, but the House of Commons could well afford to lose their services, (v an assembly of over 700 men from all parts of the country, Uioro muni bo, many nonentities, but the new blood introduced should re-invigorate Parliament, and enable many reforms to be carried out before the next general elections. We do not envy Mr Lloyd George his task of Cabinet making, especially if the number of members is to be limited to 12, with Unionists, Liberals and Labour each to be represented. It may be anticipated that the first-named party will secure tnosi of the chief offices.