HOMELAND POLLINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1931, Page 5

HOMELAND POLLINGS

[BY fl ART,t!—PBESg ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Received October 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, October 27. Londoners began the polling in a dense fog. Shivering queues waited at' the booths, this enthusiasm by early voters betokening a heavy poll. Motor cars, of which two hundred thousand are engaged countrywide, crawled to the booths. An enterprising Clapham election agent, hired bellringers to guide the fogbound voters. Conditions in the northern half of England were ideal when the voting commenced, being bathed in sunshine. Record polls are expected in many northern districts. An old lady, aged one hundred and six, voted at Folkestone before nine o’clock, another of the same age, voted at Croydon. The present state of the parties, including the unopposed members for the Universities is: Conservatives 49, National-Liberal 8, Labour G, Liborals ♦) The parties will be classified thus in the election results: Government: Conservatives, Na-tional-Liberals, National. Labour: National-Independents.

Opposition: Labour, Liberals, New Party, Communists, independents. HEAVY POLLS’ RECORDED. RUGBY, October 27. Exceptional interest has been taken in the election. Polling booths will remain open until nine o’clock to-night, and in the majority of divisions, the votes will be counted to-morrow morning, and the results declared during the day. In the cities and large towns, where the constituencies are more compact, the counting of votes will begin immediately after the polling booths close,, and the results of 215 of these will be made known late to-night, or in the early hours to-morrow.

The expectation of a large National Government majority continues, and on the Stock Exchange this morning, the majority was quoted at 197/201. Reports from all parts indicate a considerably heavier polling than was recorded in General Elections in recent years.

FIRST PROGRESS REPORT. (Received October 2S, Noon). LONDON, October 27. The parties at 10 p.m. were: Conservatives 53, National-Liberals 12, Labour 6, Liberals 1. Gains: Conservatives two, NationalLiberals 12. Losses: Labour two, Liberals, twelve. AWAITING THE RESULTS. SIGNS OF LABOUR ROUT. (Received October 28, 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. “From Socialist fog to National sunshine,” was the “Evening News’s” symbolical streamer, when the morning fog, which was very dense in many parts of the country, dispersed, the sun shining brilliantly. Polling throughout the day was unprecedently heavy. Britain now awaits the verdict with bated breath, while the whole world equally awaits the decision. Thousands visited the cabarets and clubs to hear the results, while many millions more were listening by their firesides. The broadcasting companies are carrying on until 4 o’clock to-morrow morning. Special tape machines have been installed at Buckingham Palace for the King to receive the results. The Prince of Wales was listening at his country house, Belvedere, and the Duke and Duchess of York at Piccadilly House. Never before has there been greater interest. The cable companies engaged a special staff to deal with the traffic. Many American papers are taking the complete results. The arrangements for the distribution o£ news included special broadcasts for liners homeward and outward bound.

There were many proofs of the exceptional enthusiasm. At 7 o’clock in the morning, a queue at North Lambeth was headed by thirty nurses from night duty, determined to vote before going to bed. Firemen returning drenched from a fire at Plymouth, stopped at the polling booth, marched in, and voted in a body. Polling closed under a thick blanket of fog, which caused many lost votes, workers arriving to find the polling closed.

The first 300 voting papers at South Portsmouth were not officially stamped. The validity of the votes will be decided later. Theatres and greyhound tracks are remaining open until two o’clock in the morning, the results being displayed on the screens. CONSERVATIVE GAINS.

The Hornsey and Cheltenham seats were regained by the Conservatives in straight fights, both with enormously increased majorities. Hastings provided a significant example of the surprising accession of Conservative strength. Lord Eustace Percy gaining 6700, the National Liberal candidate losing 4400, and the Labourite 1600 votes. Exeter afforded the first test of National Labour against Official Labour, the former prevailing to the extent of 613, through Official Labour dropping 1403 votes.

The first returns, at 9.45, gave an immediate suggestion of the landslide, with huge increases in Conservative majorities at Hornsey and Cheltenham, notably the former where there was a gain of 15,654. Close on the heels, came smashing Labour reversals at North and West Salford, Ben Tillett biting the dust at the former to the tune of 11,880, compared with his 1929 majority of 3726. Rear-Admiral Campbell (Nationalist) defeated Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labour) by 9000 votes. A remarkable fact was that Labour

SOCIALIST PARTY ROUTED MR. HENDERSON DEFEATED Heavy polling was recorded in the Homeland general election, and the earlier returns show signs of an overwhelming Socialist defeat, many of that Party’s leaders, including Mr. Arthur Henderson, being rejected.

had not moved in the first hundred minutes after the first declaration. Not a single success was recorded, whereas there were sixteen Conservatives and two National-Liberal wins. Following Mr. Tillett’s significant Labour defeat, the veteran Sir James Sexton, St. Helens, where his majority of 8105 was wiped out for a Conservative 2430. Sir J. Sexton was one one of the most respected Trade Unionists. The results continued to indicate that the Liberals were voting solidly with the Conservatives, where there was a straight fight of Conservative against Labour. For instance, Stoke-Ewington. where in 1929 the Conservative vote was 9030, Liberal 7958, making 16,988, it is now 16,035 Conservative votes, against Labour’s 5837.

A National Liberal gain was at Dewsbury, formerly a three cornered, but now a straight fight, where Labour is in the minority of 8362. An enormous increase in the Conservative majority occurred at Wallasey, the majority of 7829 in 1929 swelling to 32,449. Warrington registered a Conservative gain from Labour, a substantial majority of 4343 replacing Labour’s 3585. The new party (Mosley) hitherto has figured in only one contest at Ashton-Under-Lyne, where the candidate was at the bottom of the poll with 424. MR. HENDERSON’S REJECTION LONDON, October 27. The dramatic flash announcement of Mr. Henderson’s defeat was not unexpected, but there was surprise at the size of the Conservative majority 8,209. It was known that the Liberal vote of 12,502 in 1929 must have gone solidly in favour of Rear Admiral Campbell. The defeat of the Leader of the Opposition is the severest blow to Labourites. The defeat was too sweeping to permit of his indisposition to be counted as the reason.

Mr. Henderson has been a political n’omad. He has been rejected for many seats, Barnard Castle, East Ham, Widnes, Newcastle, and now Burnley. The Labour majority 9,338 at Barnsley melted in the face of a National Liberal attack, where there was a notable Government victory.

AMONG THE LABOUR LOSSES LONDON, October 27. Labour lost Wakefield. Farnworth (Lancashire) held by Labour since 1922, turned over with a substantial majority. There was a big swing at Accrington, where the Labour majority of 2,226 was converted into a Conservative majority of 12,500. Not until 11.45 p.m. was the first Labourite returned, Mr. Wallhead holding Merthyrtydvil in a straight fight against a New Partyite polling 10,834. Presumably all the Liberal or Conservative votes went to the Labourite. Doctor Sommerville Hastings had a terrific slump at Reading, the Conservative converting a deficiency of 852 into a majority of 15,162. Well-known Labourites defeated so far include Tom Shaw and Mr. Greenwood, ex-Cabinet members. HOW CONSTITUENCIES VOTED* (Recd. October 28, 2 p.m.) / LONDON, October 27. The following were the figures in the constituencies mentioned: — BURNLEY. Rear-Admiral Campbell (N.).. 35,126 Arthur Henderson (Lab.) .. 26,917 Rushton (Communist) .. 512 National gain. HASTINGS. Lord Eustace Percy (Con.) .. 22,640 Miss Isabel Goddard (Lab.).. 4,893 T. A. Spearing (Nat.-Lib.) .. 4,561 Unchanged-ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE.

Col. Broadbent (Con.) .. 15,652 J. W. Gordon (Lab.) .. 11,074 J. T. Middleton (Liberal) .. 2,696 C. B. Hobhouse (New Party) 424 Unchanged. WORCESTER. Crawford Greene (Con.) .. 16,357 B. R. Fairbairn (Nat.-Lib.).. 661 Hubert Bolton (Lab.) .. 3,874 ’ STOCKTON-ON-TEES. H. Macmillan (Con.) .. .. 29,199 E. F. Riley (Lab.) .. .. 18,168 Conservative gain. HYTHE. Sir Philip Sassoon (Con.) .. 29,277 Miss G. M. Colman (Lab-) .. 3,608 Unchanged. ST. HELENS. R. A. Spencer (Con.) .. 26,131 Sir James Sexton (Lab.) .. 23,701 Conservative gain. WALLASEY. Lieut.-Col. Moore Brabazon (Con.) .. 40,161 J. D. Mack (Lab.) .. .. 7,712 Unchanged. HACKNEY SOUTH. Miss F. M. Graves (Con.) .. 15,920 Herbert Morrison (Lab.) .. 12,827 Conservative gain. EAST MIDDLESBOROUGH. E. J. Young (Nat.-Lib.) .. 18,409 Ellen Wilkinson (Lab.) .. 12,080 National-Liberal gaiu. LIVERPOOL EDGEHILL. Sir Hugo Rutherford (Con.).. 19,901 Jack Hayes (Lab.) .. .. 11,722 Conservative gain.

WEST SALFORD. Lieut.-Com. F. Astbury (Con.) 24,083 A. Haycock (Lab.) .. • • 12,320 iConservative gain.. NORTH SALFORD. J. P. Morris (Con.) .. • • 25,751 Ben Tillett (Lab.) .. -- 13,271 Conservative gain. STATE OF PARTIES. (Recd. October 28, 3 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. The state of the parties at midnight was as follows: — Conservatives 85 National-Labour 0 National-Liberal 17 National-Independent .. - - 1 Labour 9 Liberal - - - - - 1 PARTY GAINS. Conservatives 18 National-Liberals 17 National-Independent .. .. 1 PARTY LOSSES. Labour 22 Liberals 13 Others 1 PRE-POLLING PRONOUNCEMENTS MR SNOWDEN’S APPEAL. LONDON, October 25.

“I do not exaggerate when 1 say that the real : issue is between prospeiity and ruin,” said Mr Philip Snowden, in a final message to the electorate. Pointing put that although he believed that an overwhelming majority would decide to vote for the Government, he said that he was addressing a last appeal to those who were undecided. He adds: “This is rhe gravest occasion on which you

have ever had to vote. I would not ask you to vote against the party which I have done much to build up. unless F was profoundly convinced that its return would mean irreparable disaster this time, when all should be for the State and none for the party. I do not seek votes myself, but I do care for my country and the workers’ livelihood. I am convinced that if Labour is returned, trade, employment and the people’s savings would be in the gravest jeopardy. Labourites who deserted their posts cannot be trusted with serious responsibilities. Moreover, their return would destroy confidence at Home and abroad. They would be tied hand and foot by the T.U.C-, who Mi Henderson described as his bosses” Mr Snowden finally urges the women to procure their enfranchisement by strengthening democratic foundations. “If Labour is successful,” he adds, “women would be the first sufferers owing to the fall in the value of money.” MR. LLOYD GEORGE’S MESSAGE. LONDON, October 27.

Mr. Lloyd George, in an appeal to •the Liberals, declares that the fate of the country is in their hands. Upon their casting vote will depend whether Britain shall continue the honourable career as the pioneer of human progress which she has pursued for generations, or shall spring backward 80 years to the level of the Protectionist Continentals, with low wages, taxed food, fettered industry and a policy of international antagonisms, interfering with prosperity and imperilling world peace. He adds that the Conservatives’ appeals to patriotism and unfounded apprehensions are deliberately designed to obscure the issue, “but the open mind,” he says, “is an open booby trap. I fervently appeal to Liberals not to walk into it, merely because it is decorated with the Union Jack. ’ LABOUR HEARTBURNINGS. LONDON, October 27. “There will be a severe reckoning with the party after the election,’ says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Labour correspondent. “It is recognised that the trade unions will pay the piper, but it is felt that the Trades Union Council has called a disastrous tune. Ono T.U.C. official admitted he was most concerned as to the extent of the disaster, adding: ‘But Labour representation will come again!’” The “Daily Herald’s” final appeal before the polling is a call to the voters to save their country from the criminal folly cf tariff protection and to save the workers from further attacks on their standard of living, and also to save democracy from the ambitions of would-tie dictators. SICK AND IN PRISON. LONDON, October 27. Mr A. Henderson remains in bed owing to illness on polling day. His opponent, Admiral Campbell, was his first visitor this morning. Another candidate out of the fight is Sir C. P. Trevelyn (Labourite), who is contesting Everton, and who became suddenly ill while addressing a meeting last night. He was operated on for appendicitis at four o’colck this morning.

Yet another candidate out of the fight is Mr Flanagan, the Communist contesting the Gorton Division of Manchester, who has been imprisoned for his participation in unemployed disturbances. The Home Secretary refused to release Mr Flanagan. Mr Paul Latham (Conservative candidate for Scarborough) now’ fights as a Baronet, his father, Sir Thomas Latham, dying to-day.

SEDITIOUS PAMPHLET. LONDON, October 27. The “News-Chronicle” says: A certain Vice-Admiral is taking a legal opinion as to whether Rear-Admiral K. G. Dewar, who figured in the Royal Oak court-martial case in 1929, can be prosecuted for alleged sedition, uttered in a pamphlet. Admiral Dewar is the Socialist candidate for Portsmouth, where the Conservative candidate, Sir Bertram Faile, has had to cancel all his election meetings, owing to organised hooliganism. The pamphlet in question is headed: “The Nation Faces the Bankers.” It has pictures of the ex-Kaiser, and Mr. Montague Norman, and is captioned: “The British Navy at Jutland in 1916 beat the Kaiser; at Invergorden in 1931 it beat Norman!” Sir B. Faile said that the spirit of Bolshevism was abroad in Britain’s premier port, and that fredom of speech had been abolished. The Conservative Party agent will ask the Admiral after the election. Admiral Dewar is entitled to continue drawing his retired pay of £ 950 if his action is disloyal. Admiral Dewar admits that the leaflet is in bad taste, but he ridicules the idea of disloyalty or of an insult to the Navy, in which he has spent his life.