A LIBERAL VICTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 72, 25 March 1919, Page 4

A LIBERAL VICTORY.

Every student of politics knows that it is risky to draw conclusions confidently from by-elections. It ia co easy to Miakt! the results point in the direction you want them to point. But there are circumstances about the election at West Leyton, in Essex, which justify :iie excitement that the result has caused in English political circles. It is only three months ago since the Liberals led by Mr. Ascjuith were pretty well annihilated in the general election. The party that had been in power since 1905 was reduced as an independent party to 20 members, and even the returned Liberals who were Coalition candidates numbered only 136 to the Unionists' 338. Mr. Asquith himself and most of his lieutenants fell in the defeat. Now, three months afterwards, before the new Government has had an adequate opportunity to show its worth, there are signs of a reaction. In the election for the West Leyton seat in December, Colonel Wrightson, Coalition Unionist, defeated Mr. Xewbould, a Liberal, by a majority of SCOB votes in a poll of 10,000. In the by-election a few daye ago Mr. Xewbould won the seat by a majority of over 2000 in a poll of 14,000. About the same time, in the by-election for a Liverpool seat; the Coalition majority of GOOO over a Labour candidate was considerably reduced. i

We do not know whether euch a turn over of votes within three months of a general election is without precedent, but it is certainly very unusual. But if all the circumstances as well as the results of the elections are considered, this reaction will not cause very much surprise. The general election should not have been held. That on the war record of his Government Mr. Lloyd George deserved a vote of confidence from the country doeso-not'*xcuee some of the methods employed by the Coalition, such as the declaration of war to the knife on all candidates, whatever their services to the country, who would not join the Coalition, and the overdepreciation of the work of the Asquith Government. Xor did the Government's record justify the country's treatment of Mr. Asquith and his colleagues. The verdict was partly the result of excitement mingled with intense bitterness against members of what .was rudely called the "Old Gang." Calmer reflection was bound to produce the feeling that the attacks on the "Old Gang ,, had been overdone, and that for all their faults this group deserved well of their country. The victory was too overwhelming to be pennanimt. As a reflection of popular opinion about the war, the result was far more valuable than as a considered judgment on the merits of parties and individuals. It will be to England's advantage if this West Leyton election is the beginning of a Liberal revival, for not only is the country in need of a strong infusion of Liberalism in politics, but Mr. Lloyd George's immense majority is a source of weakness as well as of strength to the Government, and may be a danger to the rights of Parliament. The House would •be a far stronger guardian of these rights' and of popular liberties If it had a etrong Liberal-Labour Opposition to criticise and help a Government which is so largely in the hands of the Conservatives.