BALDWIN’S DEBACLE IN BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6868, 25 March 1929, Page 7

BALDWIN’S DEBACLE IN BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS

Labour Sweeps Cities; Liberals Capture Counties

Lloyd George’s Characteristic Come-back Australian Press Assn.-United Service. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, March 23. The week’s miniature general election was a black one for the Government. It fought all five by-elections which were Conservative seats, hut retained only two and those were won with remarkably reduced majorities. Indeed, it is difficult for the Government to take consolation from any of the numerous by-elections during the life of the present Government. Those seats which it has held have been with considerably reduced majorities while it has suffered a net loss of fifteen seats, twelve to Labour three to Liberal. The most recent contests make it as clear as can reasonably be expected that Labour is stronger to-day in industrial Britain than at any period in its history. The sweeping victory in North Lanark where Miss Jennie Lee won by 15,711 votes against the Conservatives 9133 and the Liberal’s 2488 may be accepted as a reasonably clear index of the feelings of the industrial centres. But that the Socialist tide runs feebly in rural and semi-rural areas is abundantly clear from the Holland result where the Liberals secured 13,000 votes, Labour 9294, the Conservatives 8257 and Independent 3514. The Conservatives thus lost 7000 votes while the Liberals increased their total by an equal number. Here, (hen, Liberalism has administered a resounding Mow to fhe Government just as it did at Eddisbury yesterday which even in the free trade election of 1923 remained Conservative. Labour confesses open disappointment at its failure in the rural centres, but Conservatism has cause not so much for disappointment as alarm/ It is apparent that while rural England is refusing to swallow the Socialist medicine it is definitely casting around for a new doctor who seems opportunely to have arrived in the fighting personality of Lloyd George. There are many indications, however, that the Liberals are not to be left alone to administer succour to the ruralites. Labour with lessons learned during the past months is likely to withdraw large forces from the safer industrial centres and concentrate on the countryside, but the increase in the Liberal vote is causing many who preached that Liberalism was a spent force hurriedly to recast their views. The Ministerial oi'gani&ers do not seek tc deny that defeatism is over apparent among the Conservatives. Even Mr. Baldwin made an onslaught on the “waverers and grousers and people with cold feet.” Liberalism has taken the centre of the stage because both parties have paid it the evidently sincere compliment of concentrating their criticism upon it This will he an election with the gloves off. Lloyd George is the target Earl Birkenhead says Lloyd George reminds him of a very active wasp beneath an inverted tumbler. Lord Melchett (who as Sir Alfred Mond deserted the Liberal ranks) says Lloyd George has become the jackanapes of British politics. Sir William Joynson-Hicks (Home Secretary) asks, however, “ Is Lloyd George the only man of brains in the world ? ”■ Mr. Baldwin says his feet are no longer on the ground. Meanwhile, Lloyd George is busy telegraphing to the Liberals’ victors in picturesque language such as “The finger of doom”; “Toryism is discredited and cannot be repaired.” The Manchester Guardian, editorially welcoming the Liberal victories, speaks of the country’s weariness of the present Government and its protracted futility. The Morning Post says it passes comprehension what the farmers expect from Liberalism, also how they can again trust Lloyd George, the arefy deceiver of the rustic maiden. Mr. J. L. Garvin, in the Observer, referring to the week’s by-elections, says he had expected a bad result but not so had as it was Tho country demands something which Cabinet refuses—a bold, constructive policy dealing with unemployment Mr. Baldwin on the present showing is heading for a disaster nearly as black as 1922. It is, no longer a question of losing a hundred seats. The real danger is in losing 150. The Daily Express says: “To cry all is well in the face of much electrifying results is neither loyalty nor common sense. The question on every one’s lips is: Is there time for the Government to save itself ? The real battle is coming on the question whether the Government will enter like conquerors or a beaten force. Whatever the outcome of the genera! election the byelections in fhe past month reveal these significant figures:— Labour . >. .. 92,828 Conservatives .. 73,331 Liberals .. .. .. .. .. ... >58,008 LIBERALS HOLD TEN THOUSAND MEETINGS. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, March 23. The Liberals are holding ten thousand meetings in April throughout the country.

The Toll of the Polls

Labour and Liberal Victories LONDON, March 22. The two latest British by-elections have resulted in the loss of both seat 3 by the Government, Holland-with-Bos-ton going to the Liberals and North Lanark, to Labour. The Holland-with-Boston by-election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of tho sitting member, Mr. A. W. Dran (C.) resulted: — Blindell (L.) .. .. ✓. .. 13,000 G. B. B. White (Lab.) .. 9,294 Van den Bergh (C.) .. .. 8,257 Dennis (Ind.) 0,513 This represents a Liberal gain,- the [figures for the last election being:— A. W. Dran (C.) 15,459 G. E. B. White (Lab.) .. 10,689 R. P. Winfrey (L.) .. .. 6,413 JChe North Lanark by-election neces-

sitated by the death of Sir Alexander Sprot (C.), resulted:— Miss Jeannie Lee (Lah.) . 15,711 Lord Scone (C.) .. .. .. 9,133 Miss Mitchell (L.) .. .. 2,488 This represents a Labour gain. Miss Mitchell forfeits her deposit: The figures for the last election were:— Col. Sir A. Sprot (C.) .. 13,880 J. Sullivan, M.B.E. (Lab.) 11,852 MINER’S DAUGHTER AND ERRAND BOY. MISS JENNIE LEE’S CAEEEB. Beceived March 24, 9.20 p.m. , LONDON, March 23. Miss Jeannie Lee, who has gained such a striking success is 26 years old, and is the daughter of a Scottish miner. She attended elementary school and her parents managed, with characteristic Scottish frugality, to send her to Edinburgh University. There she took a degree in Arts with honours, and a legrea of Batchelor of Lawk She

won also a travelling scholarship on the Continent. She is now engaged as a school mistress. Mr. Blindell, the new Liberal member for Holland-with-Boston is tho son of an agricultural labourer. Ho began life as an errand boy and is now managing director of Blindells Ltd. boot factory at Grimsby.