LABOUR VICTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21949, 5 November 1934, Page 9

LABOUR VICTORY

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS LANDSLIDE IN ENGLAND HEAVY GAINS RECORDED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Nov. 3 j The final returns from the municipal elections show that Labour has won a I sweeping victory. J In London the following boroughs have been captured by Labour:—Fulliam, Shoreditch, Battersea, Southwark, : Camberwell, Woolwich, Stepney, Isling- ; ton, Finsbury, Hackney and Bethnal : Green. Jn addition the party has retained Bermondsey, Deptford, Poplar | and Greenwich, thus aggregating 15 councils, or one more than in the prej vious peak period, 1919-1922. The most striking of Labour's victories were the winning of 37 seats at Finsbury, every seat at Stepney, 34. at I Islington where the party was not repI resented on the former council, and 45 at Hackney compared with one on the : former council. j None of the 62 Communists who stood in London was elected and in the provinces the 45 who stood were all re- | jected. j The final state of parties in London is as follows; Reformers . . . , . . 656 Labour . . .. . . 729 Progressives . , , . « 0 Independents . . , . 1 In the provinces 499 Labour candidates were elected out of more than 1000 candidates. The gains and losses of the parties are: —

Gains Losses Reformers . . 2 394 Progressives . . 9 56 Labour . . 458 1 Independents .. 0 6 Others . . . . 0 3

Commenting on the results Mr. George Lansbury. leader of the Parliamentary Labour Tartj, said they proved that municipal Socialism is getting a firm hold of the people. It is certain, he said, that the longer the Government remains in office the greater will be the smashing victory of Labour.

FUTURE OF PARTY FIGHTING CAPITALISM SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS* VIEWS (Received November 5, 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 4 In the course of an address to the members of the Oxford Labour Club. Sir Stafford Cripps, Labour member of the House of Commons for Bristol East, said: "I cannot imagine Labour coming into power without a first-rate financial crisis. That is why we demand full.emergency measures.

''Unless we are prepared to challenge the whole strength of capitalism on the very first day Labour is returned to power, then it will be impossible democratically to retain power and start our programme of socialisation.' 1