BRITAIN'S VERDICT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 127, 3 June 1929, Page 9

BRITAIN'S VERDICT

POSITION ANALYSED

FACTORS IN THE ELECTION

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian Press Association. LONDON, Ist June. Great Britain's record election—a record in the size of the electorate, in the numbers of candidates, in lavishness of expenditure, and in novelty of electioneering methods—has resulted in a stalemate. Labour will retuffrto Westminster the largest party in the State, but has failed to secure a decisive majority over all other parties. The Liberals hold the balance of power. Following are the figures:— ' Labour 287 Conservatives 254 Liberals 57 Independents 8 (With nine seats yet to be decided.) The aggregate votes polled were: Conservatives 8,536 5 835 Labour 8,317,025 Liberals 5,226,614 Others 307,931 The public and the Press are eagerly discussing how the verdict will find its expression in the House of Commons, but the new Parliament is not due to meet until 25th June. Events, therefore, may riot be hurried, especially in view of. the King's renewed illness. It may be regarded as certain that all parties will unite in case of necessity in adopting a course most likely to spare His Majesty anxiety or trouble. The Crown never stood higher in the affections of the masses of the people than today. This does not imply that Labour is likely to be slow in claiming office. Mr. Baldwin is now at Chequers, having a much-needed rest. He will confer with his colleagues early in the week. The Prime Minister's alternatives are to resign immediately, or to meet Parliament and leave the fate of the Government in the hands of the House—in other words, in the hands of the Liberals. , The chief argument against the former course is that, though the Government has suffered defeat at the polls, there is yet a definite antiSocialist majority in the House of Commons. Therefore, Mr. Baldwin is being urged to carry on, in which event he must patch up his Ministry, which has suffered the loss of seven members, notably Sir Arthur SteelMaitland, Minister of Labour;. Sir Thomas Inskip, Attorney-General; and Mr. Duff Cooper, Financial Secretary to the War Office. It is regarded as certain that when Parliament meets, the Labour Party will propose a motion of no confidence as an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, and in the event of the Liberals abstaining from voting, Labour could defeat the Government. On-the other hand, if the Liberals support Labour, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald could no doubt carry on. At all events, another General Election within a few weeks is unthinkable, and, as the "Daily Telegraph" observes, in all probability it would settle nothing. It may be useful to review some aspects of the election itself. Generally speaking, the Government lost conspicuously throughout the industrial areas, and retained its hold on the agricultural districts and the residential towns and suburbs. The Labourites call these latter dormitory divisions. Altogether over 130 Commoners

will not reiurn to the House, while at least 115 candidates forfeited their deposits, failing to secur6 the requisite one-eighth of the votes polled. Those returned include thirteen women, namely, three Conservatives, nine Labourites, and one Liberal, who is Miss Megan Lloyd George. The new House is certainly more a family affair than ever before. It is interesting to recall that Labour had only eleven representatives in the Parliament of 1900, secured 52 in 1906, fell back to 40 in 1910, rose to 62 in 1918. and then in 1922 to 142; in 1923 to 191; and in 1924 to 150. The Labourites at this election are probably of higher intellectual average than formerly. Many able men and women are among the new members. All parties naturally are,closely analysing the poll figures. Admittedly the British electoral system has many anomalies. The summary of votes cast certainly shows more Conservative votes than Labour, though fewer seats.