BRITISH POLITICS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17707, 8 March 1923, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

LABOUR WINS EDGEHILL BY-ELECTION. THIRD SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENT DEFEAT. (BY CABLE—PBBSS ASSOCIATION—COFXJUOHT.) (AUSTBALIAN ASP H.Z. CABLB ABBOCIATIOU.J (Received March 7th, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. The by-election for the Edgehill division of Liverpool resulted: — J. H. Hayes (Labour) .... 10,300 Major J. W. Hills (Conservative) 9,260 Mr J. H. Hayes is general secretary of the Police and Prison Oflicers' Union. He took a prominent part in the London war-time police strike. Papers of all shades of opinion emphasise the sensation caused by his victory, following tne other Government defeats, it is the only topic of conversation in tne lobbies, where the uouservativcs do not attempt to conceal tlieu- consternation. '

This represents the tin>U Government dereut wn,niu a- week. Major lams, iJiimncial ooerctary w uio lroasury, wno was returned lor Umiiani iu Uocember, iyio, by it majority of ;siß votes over Air J. ititson (L-auoUrj wus defeated for that seat at tne general election last November tiy tlie same opponent, the voting being: llitson j,*,UoB, Hills ll,bUb\ Major Hills was one of the four Ministers left without seats alter the general election. Col. Leslie Wilson secured a seat at the South Portsmouth by-election, but the Hon. G. Jb\ Stanley, Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, and Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen were defeated this week at the East Willesden and Miteham by-elections by Liberal and Labour candidates respectively, both these seats having been resigned by Conservative members to give the Ministers an opportunity' to re-enter the House.

In the seven by-elections since November, the Government has retained two seats and lost three—two to Labour and one to the Liberal Party. The Labour Party has not only retained two seats rendered vacant by deaths of Labour members, but has increased its strength in the House of Commons to 144 members. The voting for Edgchill at the general election was: Sir Watson Rutherford (Conservative) W-.186, J. H. Hayes (Labour) 9520. ANOTHER BY-ELECTION IN SIGHT. WELSH M.P.'S DEATH. (AUSTRALIAN AKD S.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 7th, 8.16 p.m.; LONDON, March 7. The death is announced of Sir Owen Thomas, M.P. [dir Owen Thomas, who was born in lttuei, was a well-known farmer and stock-breeder in "Wales. He held the honorary rank of brigadier-general during the war, when he took a very active part in recruiting, assisting to raise ten service battalions of the Royal Welsh .Fusiliers in North Wales in 1914-15, and commanding reserve infantry brigades during the same period. Be was knighted tor his services in 1917, and at the general election in December, 1918, was returned as an Independent member of the House of Commons for the County cf Anglesey. Ho retained his seat at the last general election, when he defeated Sir Robert Thomas (National Liberal) by over 1800 votes.]