DEFEAT OF SOCIALISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18079, 2 May 1922, Page 9

DEFEAT OF SOCIALISTS.

LONDON COUNTY ELECTIONS.

The Socialist effort, to capture the government of London at the elections of the London County Council failed completely. The Labour Party contested 96 seats: they won 16. Their leader went down in the general crash. The Radicals fared even more badly and also lost their leader. Combined, tbo Labour Party and the Progressive Party will have a bare third of the new council, for the Municipal Reformers have won two-thirds of the seats. The poll was over double that of 1919, and tho result proves again that when the voters trouble to vote extremism has no chance. Thero are 124 seats. The Municipal Reformers won 82, a s against 68 in the retiring council; the Progressives 26, against 39; and the Labour Party 16, the same number as before. In the old council there was one Independent. Tho Labour Party (identical in organisation with the Parliamentary Labour Party) put forward a pronouncedly Socialist programme, and depended for their appeal to the voters largely on an alleged Conservative threat to " education." The Progressive Party (identical with the Parliamentary Liberal Party) dissociated themselves as far as possible from extreme Socialism. Tho Municipal Reform Party (identical with the Parliamentary Conservative Party) stood for economy and sound administration. The conduct of affairs in the boroughs where the Socialists arc in power — especially Poplar — undoubtedly gravely affectcd'both the Socialist and tho Progressive Parties. The polling showed a very strong secession from extremism' on tho part of working-class voters. This was particularly noticeable in the St. Pancras divisions, where tho railway vote is predominant and where tho Municipal Reformers had sweeping victories. Commenting on the results, Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., said tho Labour movement would be well advised to take to heart tho lessons of the London County Council election. "It would be idle to deny that we received a serious setback, and it is hopeless to bnrke or run away from the fact," he sn,id. "I do not interpret the result as a determination on tho part of the people not to trust Labour, but I do frankly admit that it is a revolt against tho Poplar method of administration, which certainly alarmed people. lam firmly convinced that the lesson to be learned from the London County Council election is that we must shape our policy and method so as to impress all sections, and not to frighten the people from our banner."