BRITISH BY-ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 9

BRITISH BY-ELECTION

WEST FULHAM CONTEST. •' SEAT LOST TO LABOUR. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 7. The West Fulham by-election,, caused by the resignation of Dr G. E. Spero (Labour), resulted:— Sir Cyril Cobb (Con.) ... 10,223 Mr J, A. Barifield (Lab.) 15,983 The votirig at the general election was as follows;—-Dr Spero (Lab.), 16,190; Sir Cyril Cobb (Com), 13,979; G. A. Gale (Lib.), 5920. THE DOMINANT ISSUE. EMPIRE FREETRADE, LONDON, May 7. (Received May 7, at 11 p.m.) Not without significance is the first by-electibri at which the Government has suffered defeat. It is the first at which , Einpire Freetrade has been the dominant issue. There' have been six previous contests since the - general election, and the Labourites ‘ retained all the seats, but now they have lost West Fulham, .one of their triumphs-at the last general election. Before crediting the result wholly to . the new political issue it must be . noted that in spite of the tremendous efforts of both-sides the poll was small, 32,206, or 63:8 per cent., voting out of 50,610 on the register. It must be noted, too, that the .seat was for a long period, held' by ■ a Conservative, and even Labour was surprised'by its victory, last- year. Nevertheless, the press says the result is most striking-and a tremendous advertisement for the new crusade. - CAUSE OP LABOUR’S DEFEAT. THE CANDIDATE’S OPINION. ‘ LONDON, May 7(Received May 7, at 11.30 p.m.) Mr Banfield said: “The only cause of my - defeat was the apathy of my own people.” It is evident that many Liberals abstained from voting owing to their autiSocialist convictions. . ' , ANOTHER CONTEST PENDING. CENTRAL NOTTINGHAM SEAT. LONDON, May 7. (Received May 7, at 11.45 p.m.) Another, interesting by-election is promised shortly. Sir Albert Bennett, the Conservative-member for Central Nottingham, is resigning. The Liberals are not expected to contest the seat, so it will be a straight fight between the Conservatives and Labour on safeguarding, with special reference to the Nottingham lace industry.