HOMELAND ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1923, Page 5

HOMELAND ELECTIONS

EARLY RESULTS AGAINST GOVT. FREE TRADE GAINS f (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, December 7. The latest returns give the following as the state of parties : — Conservatives Hl Labour ... ••• ••• 78 Liberals 69 Independents ... ••• 6 The net loses of the Conservatives total fortyone. The net gains of the Liberals are nineteen and Labour twenty-two. On Thursday night in Trafalgar Square, in the London theatres and restaurants and in other places, when the results were announced, two and a-half million listeners heard the results. The feature of the election was the early polling by the women, who mostly seemed the keenest to vote. There was heavy polling in the northern industrial constituencies, but it was generally marked by an absence of excitement.

A black wall of fog descended on London just when the electioneering revellers_ were beginning to assemble. All the traffic was chaotic in a few minutes. The ’buses crawled, being piloted by the conductors, and followed by a flock of taxis. The crowds became shadowy figures and dispersed homewards. Where the Conservatives have held their seats there has been a big turn-

Over OL VULCbj HICIL reduced. some cases they have fallen by 4000. However, it must be remembered that the results in the Conservative strongholds, in London and the Home Counties, have not yet been announced. It is evident that the boroughs in the north of England are more free trade than ever before. Manchester still clings to its traditional Cobdenism. . Only six of the Liverpool divisions were contested. 'The Liberals have gained two o of these (AVavertree and West Derby) despite the fact that huge majorities were recorded therein for the Conservatives at the election a year ago. , J Mr Baldwin and the other leaders of the parties received enthusiastic ovations in., their respective constituencies. f The fifteen contests in Glasgow were very lively.'' . The Countess of AVarwick, exhausted l:y her efforts, as. a Labour candidate, remained in bed most of the day. ‘ FATE OF INDIVIDUALS. NOTABLE SURPRISES.

LONDON, December 7. Mr Asquith was elected at Paisley, defeating his Conservative opponent. Manchester is now represented by five Liberals, four Labourites and one Conservative. Liverpool has eight Conservatives, two Liberals, and an Independent (Mr I'. P. O’Connor). Mr Arthur Henderson, the Labourite, was defeated at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East, by a Liberal, Sir R. Askc. Both of Mr Arthur Henderson’s sons were re-elected. Sir Harry Brittain was elected at Acton (Middlesex). Lady Astor was re-elected at Plymouth. Mr C. P. Trevelyan (Labour) was elected at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central, defeating Mr F. M. B. Fisher (Conservative). Mr Percy Harris (Liberal) was elected at Bethnal Green, South-west. Colonel John Ward, the Independent, was re-elected at Stoke-upon-Trent. The Labourite, Mr Kirkwood,

was re-elected for Dumbarton. Mr Inskipp, Solicitor-General, was reelected at Bristol Central. Mr Hogbin, Liberal, gained Battersea North from the Parsee Communist, Mr Saklatvala. A Labourite, Mr Ammon, handsomely defeated Dame Helen Gwenne Vaughan (Conservative) at Camberwell North. Mr J. H. Thomas (Labour) and Sir Douglas Hogg were re-elected.

Conservatives gained in Lancashire, Middleton and Prestwich, and Sheffield Park. Sir W., Joynson Hicks (Twickenham) and Sir P. Lloyd Graeme (Hendon) were re-elected. The Labourite, Miss Susan Lawrence, gained East Ham North in a

triangular contest. Mr Scrymgeour (Prohibitionist) and Mr E. D. Morel (Independent) were reelected for Dundee. Professor Hewins came at the bottom of the poll at Swansea, where a Labourite defeated Sir Alfred Mond. Dr McNamara was

elected for North West Camberwell, defeating a Labour candidate, after a recount. A crowd broke a police cordon at the Town Hail, Chelsea, and chased the victorious Sir Samuel Hoare to his committee-rooms, whereas Mr Bertrand Russell*, the defeated Labourite, was carried shoulder high. Labourites, Messrs Sutton and Dukes, gained the Sutton Division of Manchester find Warrington respectively from the Conservatives and Liberals. Mr dynes (Labour) was elected for the Platting Division of Manchester. Mr Rathbone, a Liberal, won the Wavertree Division of Liverpool from Sir Harold Smith, a. brother of Lord Birkenhead. Mr W. J. Tout (Labour) and Sir Edward Grigg (Liberal) were re-elected lor Oldham. Air Norman Angell (Labourite) was defeated in Rossendale. At Cheltenham Sir J. Agg-Gardner (Conservative), who entered Parliament under Disraeli, has been re-elected, but with a greatly reduced majority. Sir Leslie Scott retained the Liverpool Exchange seat narrowly with 10,551 votes. An Irish candidate, MrGrogan, polled 10,332 votes. A Liberal, Mr Pilkington, gained the Keighley Division of Yorkshire from Mr Lee Smith, a Labourite. MR CHURCHILL DEFEATED. LONDON, December 6. Tn the election for the Leicester West seal, Mr Winston Churchill was m.m.i l.v Mr Pethrick Lawrence.

The victor is the husband of Mr.s Pethrick Lawrence, the well-known suffragette. The result was announced at midnight, and caused an immense sensation. The voting was as follows: — Mr Pethrick. Lawrence (Labour) 13,624 Mr AV. Churchill (Liberal) ... 9,236 Mr Justone (Conservative) ... 7,676 Mr Lawrence is the author, of the capital levy proposal.

A MINISTER DEFEATED. LONDON, December 7. The following are among the later returns: — ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Sir AV. Defries (Conservative) 7,813 Sir Hamar Greenwood (Liberal) 7,574 Miss Wilkinson (Communist) 6,208 , SALFORD SOUTH. Mr. Toole (Labour) .. .. 12,097 Sir M. Barlow (Con. Minister) 9,360 Mr. Jones (Liberal) .. .. 4,851 Labour gain. ACCRINGTON. Mr. Edwards (Liberal) .. .. 19,981 Mr. Rode Buxton (Labour) 16,793 Mr. Harbord (Liberal) .. .. 11,116 Liberal gain. GREAT YARMOUTH Sir Alexander Horne (Con.) 8,492 Mr. Higley (Labour) .. .. 2,138 SALFORD NORTH. Mr. Ben Tillett (Labour) .. 13,377 Mr Finburgh (Con free trader) 12,810 MANCHESTER, BLACKLEY. Mr. Oliver (Liberal) .. .. 12,235 Mr. Briggs (Con. free trader) 6,313 Liberal gain.

MANCHESTER EXCHANGE. Mr. Barclay (Liberal) .. 12,248 St. Stockton (Con. free trader) 10/149 WAKEFIELD Mr. Sherwood (Labour) .. 7,966 Mr. Ellis (Conservative) .. 7,345 Mr. Lissen (Liberal) .. .. 4,640 The following arc all Liberal gains: — MANCHESTER Miss Side Ackroyd (Liberal) 12,210 Mr. Hurst (Conservative) .. 9,097 Majority 3,113 ' BATH Mr. Rafferty (Liberal) .. .. 13,694 Mr. Foxcroft (Conservative) 12,830 Majority 564 RUSHOLME, MANCHESTER Mr. Masterman (Liberal) .. 10,901 Mr. Thorpe (Conservative) .. 8,876 Mr. Paul (Labour) .. .. 5,366

TORIES STILL HOPEFUL. REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS LONDON, December 7. The succession of Liberal and Labour gains and Conservative losses which continued until the early hours of morning, left the Conservatives everywhere hoping that to-day’s later results will straighten' out Mr. Baldwin’s' majority. The Labour gains, especially in London, became impressive. Crowds in Labour centres hailed the defeats of Sir M. Barlow, Sir A. Mond and Mr. Churchill as signal victories, while success of Mr. Henderson’s two sons, each gaining a seat from Conservatives, consoled their father and the party for the loss of his Newcastle seat. Mr. Henderson’s case is curiously the same as in the 1922 election when he lost Widnes, and had to wait till a by-election to secure a seat. Sir M. Barlow was strongly attacked by Labourites on his dealings at the Labour Ministry with unemployment. Wholly unexpected was the defeat of Sir Reginald Hall, chief agent of the Unionist party. There is evidence of widespread Conservative abstentions on a large scale, while there are some remarkable drops in majorities, notably at Grimsby from 6499 to 1618, Wallasey 7524 to 845; Exchange (Liverpool) 3036 to 229. Mr. Edwin (Stockton) whom the “Morning Post’’ calls the most perverse pronounced Conservative Free Trader, lost to the Liberals on a total poll of only 55 per cent, of the electorate. Miss Susan Lawrence won East Ham North, being the first woman Labour member. Seven women candidates were defeated. Mr. Lloyd George heard the results listening in, in his Surrey home. He is satisfied so tar but added, “We are not yet out of the wood.”

As a matter of fact, the votes in three-fifths of the constituencies rcMr. J. Clynes, commenting on his election for the eleventh time, declared that the result indicated the Labour Party before long will be not His Majesty’s Opposition, but His Majesty’s Government. Mr. Churchill stated that whatever might bo the consequences, he would never associate himself with the violent movement of the left nor of the extreme reaction of the right. He is certain from the results that Protection was broken to pieces. Mr. Asquith was loudly cheered. He stated that Paisley was an impregnable citadel of Liberalism. Liberals throughout the country were routing both protection and Socialism. LATEST PARTICULARS. MR BALDWIN ELECTED. LONDON, December 6. Air Bridgeman (Home 'Secretary), (Osweslry), Lady Torrington (Wjy-

s LIBERAL JUBILATION. LONDON, December 7. The Liberals regarded the day’s results as most satisfactory, destroying. Mr Baldwin’s chance, of getting tariff mandate. Manchester again demonstrated its allegiance to free trade, though such a landslide was not anticipated. The scenes of enthusiasm were unprecedented. Mr Clynes retained his seat, but it was found that the ten members elected included only one Unionist instead of seven. The Liberals have five members (all gains), and Labour four, an increase of one. The Liberal gain in Nottingham East is notable owing to the fact that the lace trade strongly agitated for protection. . I Liverpool provided real surprises. The Conservatives fully expected Lord Derby’s son (Stanley) to win back the Edgehill seat, which was lost to Labour last March, but he failed. Mr Crawford Greene (Conservative) won Worcester from the sitting Liberal. Mr Ashmead Bartlett (war correspondent) failed in Hammersmith. Mr (Spencer (Liberal) retained Bradford South. I ’[’he “Daily Express” comments: Whoever wins the election, the Empire

combe), Dlr R. McNeill (Canterbury), Sir Robert Horne (Hillhead) were elected. Sir Donald Mac Lean (Lib-

eral) and the Countess of Warwick (Labour) were beaten. Sir A. L. Stanley (Liberal) was beaten at Knutsford by Brigadier General Makins (Conservative) by a majority of eighty. Sjir Guy Gaunt, had a narrow victory in Buckrose with a majority of 214 over the Liberal. .Aylesbury resulted : T. Keers (Liberal) 13,576, Sir A. Burgoyne (Conservative) 13,504, Watkins (Labour), 1,275, a Liberal gain. Sir John Simon was elected for Spen Valley. At Northampton the figures were: Miss Margaret Bondfield (Labour), 15,556. Collier (Conservative), 11,520, C. A. McCurdy (Liberal) 11,341. Sir Robert Sanders (Minister of Agriculture) was beaten. Sir L. Worthington Evans, Mr R. Sniillie," and Major Norton Griffiths were elected. Air Baldwin, Air Amery, both the Chamberlains, and Air Ramsay Mac-

donald were elected. The Duchess of Athol 1 (Conservative) and Air Frank Hodges (Labour) were elected. Air Newbold (Communist) was beaten. At Paisley, the figures were Asquith 9,723, Cooperative candidate,

7,977, Conservative 7,758, Labourite 3,685. Dr. Ala'cNamara’s majority was eighty in a three cornered tight. Mr Scurr (an Australian born) Labourite gained the Mile End. Division of Stepney. Air Davidson, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, defeated Frederick Guest. Air J. Al. Hogge was elected. All's AVintringham, Sidney AA r ebb, and Mrs Philipsoil were re-elected. J. AA r . Molden (Liberal) was at the bottom of the poll in the Islington West, whjich was a Labour gain in a triangular fight. Doctor Chappel (New Zealander), Liberal, beat the Conservative, General Chatteris, in Dumfries. At South Shields, Ex-Senator Harney obtained 22012 against Lawther ‘ (Labour) 15,717.

SCENES IN LONDON. FOG PREVENTS DISPLAYS LONDON, December 7. Newspapers dp not attempt editorial comment on the results, but headlines partly indicate the views. The “Daily Telegraph” and “Aborning Post” are obviously disappointed. They admit many Liberal gains. Liberal papers describe the results as a “Liberal wave.” The • “Daily Herald” stresses that Labour is in front of the Liberals, and says that Mr. Baldwin’s policy everywhere suffered a setback. Labour gained twelve seats in and around London. The night scenes in London were weirdly wonderful. Fog blotted out the blazing electric lights of Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, Leicister Square and Trafalgar Square. Huge crowds were transformed into , phantom multitudes. Everywhere | screens were erected on which to flash the results but these were seen ■< only by those close to them, who passed on the news to invisible throngs. Great cheering was heard . in Trafalgar Square, but nothingl could be seen but stray torches, tire-; works and coloured lights. Hawkers trundled barrows, selling hot chestnuts and fruit among the crowds, and sold rattles, mouth-organs and other noisemakers- Owing to the

weather, the hotels arid clubs were "crowded. Thousands had the greatest difficulty to get home. The street traffic in many parts was stopped. The ballot boxes were collected with difficulty, and several from Camberwell were reported to be lost, but later arrived at the Town Hall. The results consequently were later than usual. There were lively scenes at Battersea. Outside the Town Hall, an enormous crowd repeatedly sang the “Red Flag,” and indulged in free fights. Mr. Saklawala appealed from the balcony for order, and the new 1 Member managed to leave the Town Hall uninterfered with, but the crowd remained noisy and several arrests were made. Polling day generally passed quietly. Eight centenarians voted, including Mrs. Lett, of Birmingham, who is 103. John Bright’s daughter voted for free trade. In the Wells division, the Labour Party organised bands of women to attend children and invalids while the mothers voted.

will be beaten. . |l It is rumoured that Mr Churchill]! will be asked to contest AVest Derby-1 shire (where the election was postponed! owing to the death ol: Mr AVhitc, the! Liberal candidate), against the Mar-1 quis of Hartington. ' HEADQUARTERS’ STATEMENTS, | LONDON, December 7. |; The Labour headquarters this morniirn are iubilant, at the result of the elections,'' ‘wh.ie/h so far emphasised the disappearance of the Government majoritv. and the fact that Labour could still claim to be the official opposition. Labour successes are attributed to the intensive work of the Labour I’artv during the last two years, also the consistent determined attitude in regard to unemployment. It is pointed out that it is very sign ifuca.nt I he Conservatives .I’pive so far gained no scats from Kabour. J defe'Tit of Arthur Henderson is much retire ttecl by Labourites. It pointed cut that Hie "Liberals and Conservatives combined against him having withdrawn. Conservative headquarters are unv.illim/ Io make a slab-menl in re-,,-p d |o (he election before I lie re are attributed entirely to Hie dear

food cry, which in the circumstances of a hurried election gave no time to effectively contradict it.

Air. Churchill arrived in London at noon and qjppeared to be in high spirits. He declined to discuss the situation. He said that he hacl not heard the rumour that he was to be invited to .contest AVest Darby. Mr. Asquith and Lady Bonham Carter are leaving Glasgow for London to-day. They expressed delight at the results Airs. Asquith exclaiming, Is it not wonderful ? THE LATEST FIGURES. LONDON, December 7. 'The slate of parties at four o’clock in the afternoon was 222 Conservatives, 128 Liberals, 158 Labourites, eight Independents. The gains are : Eleven Conservatives, sixty Liberals, fifty-one Labourites. The losses are: Eighty-six Conservatives, twenty-three Liberals, twelve Labourites, one Independent.