THE BRITISH ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18249, 16 November 1922, Page 7

THE BRITISH ELECTION.

CLOSE OF CAMPAIGN. SINGERS AID CANDIDATES. MELBA PACIFIES MEETING. By Teletraph—Press Association—Copyrisht. (Received 10.25 p.m.) United Service. LONDON, Nov. 14. Freak election feats have been scattered very sparsely tlirough the final efforts to raise the election campaign from the somewhat stodgy piano which has marked it. Mr. 0. B. Fry's capture of Madame Clara Butt to sing at a Brighton meeting has occasioned humorous comment. Her duet with Mr. Kennerley Rumford, "The Keys of Heaven," struck tho major note of the whole elections in which all parties, by press, pamphlet, and platform, have been beseeching that unknown quantity, the woman voter, "Madron, will you walk and talk with me." A section of the Labour Party has, discovered tho merits of howling down the opponents. The break-up of x»ir. Winston Churchill's meeting at Dundee was repeated in several London constituencies. The general outlook has changed little. There is increasing confidence among Conservatives, except in Scotland, where, despite the combination of Liberals against Labour, a note of nervousness has crept in at the eleventh hour. Another feature has been the gradual diminuendo of the war crisis with which Mr, Lloyd George's party commenceo the campaign. The Duko of Northumberland, addressing a meeting of dockers at Southampton, -was severely heckled. A disturbance resultedj and when at its height Dame Melba arrived from a concert. Realising tho situation, she sat at a piano and sang, "Hbme, Sweet Home." The audience were silenced and profoundly affected.

CHURCHILL HOWLED DOWN. STORMY SCENE IN DUNDEE. A. and -N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 14. There were lively scenes at the first open meeting of Mr. Winston Churchill's constituents in Dundee. A dense crowd rushed the doors, forcing the police to draw their batons. Mr. Churchill was received with a storm of cheers mingled with hissing and booing by Socialists, and the tinging of " Tell Me the Old, Old Story" aroused uproarious laughter.

Mr. Churchill attempted to address the meeting while seated, but was frequently interrupted. Ho protested that " a hundred reptiles were spoiling the meeting," but failing to stop the interrup tious ho said he " would not submit, to the bullying and tyranny of feather-heads, or be ruled by a mob of Socialists, who would reduce this great country to a bear garden." The meeting then broke up in disorder. SENSATION AT DOVER, INDEPENDENT'S ALLEGATION | A. and N.Z. LONDON, Nov. 14. A political sensation has been caused at Dover, where Colonel Sir T. Poison, Independent Conservative, the sitting member, is exposing Major J. J. Astor the official Conservative candidate. Sir T. Poison alleges that Sir Reginald Hall arid Sir John MnJcolm Fraser offered to reimburse his expenses if he would retiro from the contest.

LIBERAL VENDETTA. LLOYD GEORGE ANGRY. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 14. Mr. Lloyd George, in an angry speech at Colwyn Bay, Wales, denouncing the Independent Liberals who are attacking his friends, declared: —"This is not cricket. It is going on throughout the country in places where there is not the slightest chance of success, but just to prevent friends of; mine from getting in. It is not Liberalism, but a poor; miserable vendetta. Thirty-five of my supporters are thuß attacked. The Liberals may put in 15 to 20 Conservatives in these places, and perhaps convert a small reactionary minority into an uncontrolable majority., The next Parliament is going to be one of the most decisive in the history of the country; all we can hope to achieve is to hold reaction in check until the progressive forces are* reorganised."