IRISH ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17856, 31 August 1923, Page 9

IRISH ELECTIONS.

THE LATEST RETURNS.

STRENGTH OF PARTIES

(BY CABLB— F&KSS ASSOCIATION —COMBIOHT.) (ArSTBALIAS AKD X.Z. CABW A3SOCIATIOX.) (Received August 80th, 8.85 p.m.) LONDON, August 30. The latest election figures nre:— Government ... ... 34 Independents ... ••• H Republicans ... ... 10 Farmers' Party ... ... 5 Labour ... ... 3 The enumeration of votes under the proportional representation system is province a tedious, long-drawn-out process. Tho results are announced spasmodically, when it transpires tbflt one candidate or another has obtained tho requisito quota by tho allocation of second preferences, but such announcements are unofficial. Mr J. J.' Walsh, Postmaster-Gen-eral, headed the poll in Cork City with double the necessary quota. In North Cork Mr Dsuriel Oorkery, the outgoing Republican, heads the poll, and in Tipporary tho famous Republican, Daniel Byrne, is returned Tho defeat of Mr Cathal O'Shannon, the Labour leader, in Louth has caused surprise. Professor Michael Hayes, Speaker in the Dail, was elected for both Dublin South and the National University. He sat for the latter in the late Dail. He will now elect which seat he will take, and the other thereupon will become vacant, necessitating a by-, election. The Latest reports indicate neither the Labour Party nor the Farmers' Party has done as well as was expecti&&. The SFamnexs' Party may not exoecd twenty seats, whereas"they anticipated securing forty seats. Tho leaders attribute this to the insistence of the Press on the 'necessity of voting for the Government to ensure its return, and the Government has doubtless profited gcnerallly by this advice.

Ad earlier message gave the following figures:— Government ... ... 20 Republicans ... ... 7 ' Independents ... ... 6 Labour ... ... 4 Farmers ... ... 2 The party strengths in tho last Dail were:— Government ... ... 58 Anti-Treaty , .. i.. 36 Labour ... ... 17 Independent, Fanners, etc. 17

Total 108 There were seven vacant 9eata. At the present election there were 377 candidates for 153 seats.

MINISTERS RETURNED.

(Received August 30th, 8.15 p.m.) .LONDON, August 29. Eight Ministers have been returned,, including Mr W. T, Cosgrave, President of the Dail, Mr J. J. Walsh, Postmaster-General, Mr Edmund Duggan, and Mr Joseph McGroth, Minister of Industries and Commerce, and it is believed that the other three are safe. Mr Cosgrave, in Kilkenny, received 17,744 votes out of 40,190, or throe times the quota. General R. Mulcahy, Minister of Defence, in North Dublin received 22,234 first preferences out of 66,223 votes, tb* quota being 6147. Mr Duggan headed the poll in Meath with 8292 votes, his surplus being 2457. Mr F. Aitken, the rebel leader, however, wa3 victorious in Louth with 0651 votes out of 25,600 votes.cast. Tho Government lost two seats in County Cavan, including that formerly held by the late, Mr Arthur Griffith. Labour is relying on the turnover of surplus votes.

MR DE VALERA RE-ELECTED

LONDON, August 29. Mr de Valera headod the poll at Clare with votes. Professor Utacneill was also elected with 9170 votes.