THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1924. THE HOME ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19316, 31 October 1924, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1924. THE HOME ELECTIONS.

It is not ensy, and it is generally somewhat unsafe, to gauge election results while the reports are in an inconclusive stage, but the trend exhibited by the returns of the Home elections wliich are published by us this morning is fairly pronounced. Though the pollings throughout Great Britain, excepting iu the case of one or two University seats, all take place on the same day, there is a certain amount of unavoidable delay in the pronouncement . of the figures in the rural districts. The point is of importance in. any attempt to estimate the final results. Obviously, the progress returns which have* so far been received and which point distinctly to ‘Conservative ascendancy derive a special significance from the fact that it is the results from the urban constituencies that are invariably available first. For, in the main, the urban constituencies are not the Conservative strongholds, and, if Labour —to say nothing of Liberalism, which is at a heavy discount in present circumstances —loses ground in the towns the disadvantage is not likely to be made up in the counties. It looks, therefore, as though the idea of an independent Conservative majority, reproducing the situation of 1922, were well within the limits of possibility. It looks also as though something approaching to the annihilation of the Liberal Party were not out of the question. In this particular connection, it may be remarked iu passing than there will be no inclination to gloat over Mr Asquith’s overwhelming defeat at Paisley—a defeat which may probably signalise the close of a very distinguished political career. The indications are that Conservatism has retrieved some of the losses which it suffered in Lancashire last year in consequence of the protectionist aberration, Mr Masteman’s rejection at Manchester being particularly significant. At Salford (virtually a part of Manchester) Mr Ben Tillett found that his services wore not in requisition. The “Cottonopolis” oi the North has its proud boast—“ What 'Manchester thinks to-day England thinks to-morrow.” It is a little too soon to say that the majorities of Manchester and England were in harmony on Wednesday, but the omen is not devoid of historic trustworthiness. From the indecisive news that is to hand it is already clear that the idea of a Labour majority has to be dismissed. The Conservative-Liberal pact is reported to have “worked perfectly,” and there can be no doubt that it is to the operation of it that the defeat at Northampton of Miss Bonclfield is to bo attributed. She was a minority representative in the last Parliament, and the good work with which she is credited in her Ministerial capacity has

not availed to retain her seat for her. She is not alone among the occupants of Ministerial office to meet with rejection, and it will have been also due to the existence of an anti-Labour entente that Mr Leach was defeated in Bradford. On the other hand, Mr Arthur Henderson, who as Home Secretary has not been very conspicuous, though he has been engaged in some controversies, has had better fortune than at the election of 1923, after which he was obliged to avail himself of the opportunity afforded by a. by-contest to secure a seat. Ho was a good patriot in the early war period, and, whatever his position may be, he will bo welcomed back to the House of .Commons. The idea of a Liberal majority always belonged to the region of those airy fabrics of which dreams are made. Whether or not the Conservatives are separately independent, they will dominate the situation, and it may be anticipated that they will insist on dominating it in a spirit of confident resolution which, after their discomfiture of last year, they were shy to display. Given an outright majority their course will be plain; and, if they fall just short of that desired attainment, it is difficult to see how the Liberal remnant, preserving any degree of public spirit, could hold aloof from cooperation in the interests of stable government,