BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 28

BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS.

CONTEST FOR ST. IVES. A LIBERAL SUCCESS. LONDON, March 7. Ihe result of the St. Ives by-election, owing to Mr J. A. Hawke’s appointment to judgeship, was: — Mrs Walter Runcunan (Liberal) ... 10,241 Sir Andrew Caird (Conservative)... 9,478 Mr Fred Hopkins (Labour) 4,346 Mr® Runciman is the wife of tbe Liberal member for Swansea West. At the nrevious election the result was as follows:— Mr J. A. Hawke, K.C. (Con.), 11,159: Sir C. Cory (Lib.), 9972.

BIG TURNOVER OF VOTES. LONDON, March 7. Tlie result of the St. Ives by-election establishes a precedent in the House of Commons, as a inan and his wife will sit together. As both are Liberals, it is a less piquant situation than if they belonged to opposing parties. Mr Runciman at present sits next to Mr Lloyd George in the front bench. The question arises whether Mrs Runci man will b e permitted to sit next to her husband, or in a humbler place on the back bench. The victory has set the Liberal bells a-nnging The Conservatives do not disguise the fact that the turnover of votes is considerable, although they point out that St. Ives has the reputation of being a persistent wobbler. ° .. i - e Dail ? Express editorially says “ U is a sharp disappointment to tbe’Govrenment sine© every by-election now assumes a new significance. It shows that the revival of Liberalism is not a mere wish, but a vita] fact. Events definitely point to Liberalism taking its rightful place as th e natural alternative to the Conservative Government.” THE MIDDLESBOROUGH CONTEST. , . . LONDON, March 7. The Middlesborough by-election, due to the death of Mr Trevelyan Thomson, resulted as follows :— Mr Kingsley Griffiths (Liberal) ../ 16,717 Mr A. Ellis (Labour) ... 10,628 Mr Stanley Sadler (Conservative) 8’213