A BRITISH BY-ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 14

A BRITISH BY-ELECTION

The first British by-election since Mr. Eden's resignation and Germany's military occupation of Austria has resulted in the loss of , a Conservative seat, Opposition Labour winning it by 16,583 to i 15,162. As the contest was said to be a test of the Government's foreign policy recently enunciated by Mr. Chamberlain, the Opposition victory is being acclaimed as a crushing reply to him and the forerunner of a successful movement to drive his Government from office. The figures do not justify this interpretation. At the general election in 1935 the total poll was 34,571, , heavier by 2826 than the poll at this by-election: thus the constituency does not seem to have been greatly perturbed about the question said to be at issue. When the comparison is carried further it reveals that the growth of the Opposition vote was only 473, so small 'a fraction of 16,583 that it is unimpressive as an index of feeling.against the Government. Feeling rather than thought appears to have dominated the byelection, for the slogan of the Opposition "Stop the wobble toward war; stand by the League Covenant"—is a catch-cry rather than an argument. It cannot be reasonably urgpd that Mr. Chamberlain's policy is other than a determination to avert war as long as it can be honourably averted, whereas the Opposition, by desiring to see the sanctions of the Covenant applied regardless of present chances of success, prefers to risk a military conflict. It is really Mr. Chamberlain that is standing by the Covenant, for he is trying, by the only available means, to broaden and strengthen the foundation of the League, which in its depleted condition is unable to make the Covenant work. Nothing would so surely and quickly destroy what is left of the League as a reckless attempt by its remnant to enforce measures requiring a large membership.