BRITISH ELECTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 19388, 31 October 1924, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

CONSERVATIVES LEADING A SUBSTANTIAL ADVANTAGE LIBERALS BADLY DEFEATED (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, October 29. (Received October 30, 11 p.m.) Polling at the General Election of the House of Commons to-day opened in fine weather all over the country. The Conservatives, pointing out that the Labourites were sure to poll every vote, urged their supporters to recognise that every vote was precious. They used as a slogan: “The Red Flag must be half-masted.” The Liberals urged their supporters to vote “Liberal for safety.” There were brisk opening scenes, including hundreds of women standing in queues outside the polling booths. These indicated a heavy poll. In the afternoon the weather in London ehanged and there was a relentless downpour of rain from 5 o’clock onwards. Nevertheless, Londoners turned out in large numbers in Fleet Street, The Strand and Trafalgar Square to hear the results. There were similar scenes throughout the country. 1 STATE OF THE PARTIES.

The latest results disclose the position of the respective Parties to be: — CONSERVATIVES |65 LABOUR .. .. M ,, „ M 75 LIBERALS ._ ~,, _ M M 23 MISCELLANEOUS ....... 4 The Conservatives gained 28 seats from Labour and 30 from the Liberals. The Liberals gained seven seats from Labour gained 12 seats from the Liberals and six from Conservatives. The Communists gained a seat from the Liberals.

INCIDENTS OF TILE POLL. HEAVY VOTING EVERYWHERE. LIBERAL-CONSERVATIVE PACT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N_Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, October 29. (Received October 30, ILS pan.) A feature of the election so far is the big increase in all the polls wherever there was a straight fight instead of a threecornered contest. The Liberal-Conservative pact worked perfectly, the Liberals supporting the Conservatives and vice versa. This accounted for the majority of the Conservative gains but there was a considerable accretion to the Conservative vote, especially in Lancashire owing to the “dear food cry” being no longer operative.

The results generally caused no surprise. Mr Asquith’s seat was known to be in danger, as also was that of Miss Margaret Bondfield.

Five Conservative gains were recorded before 9.45, though the polling stations were mostly open until 9 o’clock. The counting everywhere was very speedy. The defeat of Ben Tillett, the hero of many Labour fights, disheartened the Socialists.

The Lancashire results greatly encouraged the Conservatives. Labourites cheered the return of their first woman member at this election, Miss Wilkison, for Middlesbrough East. This represented a gain to the party. ROUT OF THE LIBERALS. The decline in the Liberal fortunes was strikingly shown at Grimsby where Mr Tom Wing, whose name was once one to conjure with, was at the bottom of the poll Crowds, despite the bad weather, thronged West End. Last year a sudden fog obscured the illuminated results but this year the crowds everywhere watched the results under dripping umbrellas. Thousands stood patiently for hours in Trafalgar Square, PicadiUy Circus and Leicester Square, the Strand, Oxford Street and other centres. Hawkers paraded with their wares but there was little demand, the crowds mostly preferring to patronise the vendors of hot chestnuts. DISPLAYING THE RETURNS.

Never were such elaborate arrangements made for the announcement of the results, newspapers, hotels, great stores and ships all competing with costly electric scrolls, gigantic lantern screens and super megaphones in every available open space. Similar enterprise was shown in the provinces, and the varying fortunes of prominent men were watched with extreme interest, EARLY POLLING. Polling began in many constituencies at an unusually early hour. The returning officers, having used their discretion, fixed polling from 7 o’clock in the morning to 9.0 o’clock at night instead of the normal 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Afternoon reports from London divisions showed that morning polling had been unusually heavy, particularly among women. The weather was rather mild but overcast, a few slight showers falling. Outside some London polling centres there were large queues awaiting opening at *1 o’clock, like a first-night theatre queues. Brixton, a populous district, reported that 60 per cent, of last year’s poll had already been registered by noon. EXERCISED THE FRANCHISE. Mr Homes, a member of the London County Council, arriving in pyjamas and overcoat at 6.45 a.m., maintained his long reputation of being the first voter in East Fulham.

Another early morning voter was a man aged 80, who motored to the booth. A man sentenced to a month’s imprisonment in Dudley, was permitted to poll before going to gaol, being taken to the polling booth in custody of a constable. The casualty department of the West London Hospital and Hammersmith Department were busy as the result of election fights. Patients poured in all afternoon suffering from black eyes, broken noses and arms and sprained wrists. Some of the eases were women but none were of a serious nature.

Mr Winston Churchill revived the practice of bygone days of driving around the constituency in a coach and four, flying a large Union Jack. Tbe London results arrived late, nearly midnight.

The Conservatives’ anticipations of gains in Hackney were realised. The Conservatives gained from Labour in South Salford, where last year’s Labour victory in a three-cornered contest was con-

verted into defeat owing to the Liberal standing down.

Other Conservative gains rapidly followed, Labour losing Wakefield and Salford West, where Liberals stood down; also Salford North where Mr Ben Tillett, who last year defeated the Conservative, Mr Finburgh, in a straight fight lost to Mr finburgh in a three-cornered contest. MB ASQUITH DEFEATED. SUCCESSFUL LABOUR ONSLAUGHT. RETIREMENT FROM POLITICS. LONDON, October 30. (Received October 30, 11J0 pan.) Mr H. H. Asquith was defeated for Paisley. pie Daily Telegraph says that Mr Asquith’s defeat will be deplored by Conserpatives as well as by Liberals. The former, realising .the Labourite’s desperate efforts to capture his seat, kept out of the field and gave Mr Asquith support. It is recalled that Lady Bonham Carter said on Thursday that her father, Mr Asquith, would not stand again if defeated. Later. Mr Asquith retires from public life in accordance with his announced intention. The successful candidate at Paisley was the Labour advocate, Mr Roslyn Mitchell, whose majority was 2228. THE PERSONAL ASPECT. ' MANY CHANGES TAKE PLACE. • SEVERAL MINISTERS DEFEATED.

LONDON, October 29. (Received October 30, 11.45 pjn.) It is notable that both Mr Arthur Henderson’s sons were beaten, viz., Arthur (junior), in Cardiff, and William, in Enfield.

The personal popularity of Mr J. H. Thomas (Colonial Secretary), in the railway centre of Derby, assured his re-election, but he is chagrined by having a Conservative. colleague, Mr Westminster Luce defeating Mr Raynes, the second of the Labour string by 250 votes. Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke defeated Sir Donald McLean at Cardiff East.

Mr Austin Chamberlain, Sir Hamar Greenwood, and Sir Newton Moore were elected.

Mr C. P. Trevelyan beat Mr F. M. B. Fisher (New Zealander), at Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Sir Harry Brittain was re-elected, beating Mr Levinson. Lady Astor was re-elected. Mr W. Leach (a member of the Ministry) was beaten at Bradford Central. At the Rusholme Division of Manchester, Mr Merriman (Conservative displaced Mr C. F. Masterman (Liberal.)

Captain E. Ashmead-Bartlett gained Hammersmith North from the Labourite, Mr J. P. Gardner. He is the author of the famous despatch describing the Anzac landing at Gallipoli.

Despite Mr Lloyd George’s intervention in North-West Camberwell, Dr T. J. MacNamara was at the bottom of the poll, being 4500 votes below the Conservative. Colonel L. C. M. S. Amery (Conservative) was re-elected for Sparkbrook, Birmingham.

Miss Susan Lawrence (Labour) was defeated for East Ham.

The Home Secretary (Hon. Arthur Henderson) was elected for Burnley in a threecornered fight by a majority of 4,465, compared with 7037 in a straight fight with a Conservative at a by-election in February. The Liberal housing expert, Mr E. Ward Simon, was defeated for Withington Division of Manchester, by a Conservative, Mr Watts, by a majority of 3,198 in a fourcornered fight. Mr Neville Chamberlain held Ladywood, Birmingham, against a hot attack by Mr Oswald Mosley, the Labourite, with a majority of 77, the Liberal candidate polling only 539. The result was announced after five re-counts. .

The Labourites succeeded in their intention of defeating the Liberal’s chance at Nottingham Central, where the Conservative, Mr Bennett, gained the seat from the Liberal by a majority of 8,255. Mr Stanley Baldwin’s son, Oliver, a Labourite, was defeated at Dudley, but reduced the Conservative majority to 885. The Liberal candidate stood down.

The Conservative, Sir W. Lugden gained Hartlepool, defeating the Liberal, Mr W. A. Jowitt, who voted for the Government in tbe division on the Workers’ Weekly case. Sir William’s majority was 3,353. Mr Jowitt’s last December was 144 in a threecornered fight. Major Cowen, a Conservative, who lost both legs in the war, retained Fairfield Division of Liverpool, defeating Mrs Mercer, .the Mayor-elect of Birkenhead by a majority of 5,865.

Mr R. A. Taylor, a Labourite, Mayorelect of Lincoln, gained Lincoln from the Conservative, Mr A. T. Davies in a tri

angular fight by a majority of 39. Mr Taylor is a shop assistant, an ex-student of the Ruskin College, and propagandist for the Agricultural Labourers’ Union. Mr J. R. Clynes (Lord Privy Seal) was elected for Platting Division of Manchester in a three-cornered fight with a majority of 1065.

Mr Tom Mann was defeated in Nottingham East in a three-cornered fight. A Con-

servative gaming the seat. Mr Mann forfeited his deposit. Nottingham is now represented by three Conservatives and one Labourite. A Conservative, General Sir A. Holland, gained Northampton from the Labourite, Miss Margaret Bondfield (Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour), in a triangular fight, the Liberal bring the boot manufacturer, Mr Manfield. Mr Stephen Walsh (Minister of War), was re-elected for Ince Division of Lancashire, defeating the Conservative, an ex-Indian Civil Servants, CdL Gabriel. A Conservative, Mr Alfred Duff Cooper gained on seat, Oldham, from Labour. The second seat was retained by Sir Edward Grigg (Liberal). During the campaign, Lady Diana Duff Cooper promised to dance in public in wooden clogs if her husband were returned.

The famous oarsman, Mr R. C. Bourne, a Conservative, retained Oxford with an increased majority of 5360. The Under-Secretary for Air (Mr W. Leech), defeated in Bradford Central, was famous for pacifist speeches while in office. The Liberal stood down and in a straightout fight, the Conservative, Colonel Gadie, won by 1202 votes. Lord Eustace Percy, a Conservative, was re-elected for Hastings, defeating the Labour candidate, the Australian, Mrs Muriel Porter. The Liberal was returned.

Mrs Mary Hamilton was one of the unsuccessful Labour candidates at Blackbum, where J. Duckworth (Liberal), and Sir S. Henn (Conservative), were re-elected. A Conservative gained Bath from a Liberal in a three-cornered contest in which the Labourite intervened to spoil the Liberal’s chances. The Labourite, Mr Pethick Lawrence, originator of the Capital Levy, was re-elected in Leicester West.

Sir Walter de Frece (Constvative), husband of Vesto Tilley, the well-known actress, gained Blackpool from a Liberal, Colonel Meyler. The Parsee Communist, Mr Saklatvala, regained Battersea North by a majority of 502 votes from Mr H. C. Hogbin (Liberal), who ousted him last December. Mr Hogbin is leader of the Liberal group which tends to support the Conservatives. A Liberal ex-Minister, Hon, C. G. F. Masterman, was defeated by Mr Merriman (Conservative), in a three-cornered fight for Rusholme Division of Manchester, where a Communist, Mr Paul, was ousted by Mr J. R. Campbell, Editor of the Workers’ Weekly. A veteran Labourite, Mr J. Sexton, was re-elected for St Helens, Lancashire, defeating Miss Pilkington, a Conservative. Lady Astor’s majority in the Sutton Division of Plymouth was 5079.

Mr Austen Chamberlain was re-elected for Birmingham with a majority of 7463 over the Communist Dr Dunstan.

Mr Arthur Ponsonby (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) was elected in the Brightside Division of Sheffield, his majority being 3345. Sir Harry Britten (Conservative) was elected for Acton in a four-cornered fight, defeating the Independent, Miss Mary Richardson, a Liberal, Mr B. A. Benson, and a Labourite, Mr H. A. Baldwin. Richmond (Surrey) returned a Conservative, Sir Newton Moore, who defeated the Labourite, Mr Parker, a nephew of Mr J. R. Clynes. Mr J. H. Thomas was elected for Derby with a majority of 2251.

A Conservative, Sir H. Cayzer, was elected for Portsmouth South, defeating the Labourite, Miss Jessie Stephen. Portsmouth is now solidly Conservative.

A Labourite was elected for Ardwick Division of Manchester, defeating the Conservative, Miss Jones.

Newcastle-on-Tyne is represented by one Conservative and three Labourites.

Dr Hayden Guest, secretary-of the Labour Commonwealth Group, was re-elected for Southwark North, with a majority of 1030 in a three-cornered contest.

COMMENT ON THE OUTCOME 1 LABOUR PARTY ADMITS CONSERVATIVE VICTORY. CRUSHING DEFEAT OF LIBERALS. LONDON, October 30. (Received October 31, 1 a.m.) i The Daily Express says editorially: ‘The Labourites will face the new House of Commons as a bankrupt Administration.” i The Daily Telegraph says that Mr Ramsay MacDonald is expected to return to London this evening, and will begin immediately an investigation with the object of establishing the authenticity or otherwise of M. Zinoviev’s letter, and also clearing up the circumstances under which the Foreign Office Note was despatched. The Daily Herald, the official organ of | the Labour Party, in an early editorial, fea- I tures the huge slump in the Liberal vote with Labour fighting hard against the pact. It adds: There is every indication of a Conservative victory at the polls, partly at the expense of the Labour Party, but mainly at the expense of the liberal Party, which has suffered a crushing defeat. Most of the Labour losses were due to the operation of the Liberal-Conservative pact in constituencies where Labour won last year by minority votes in three-cor-nered fighte. The Herald regrets the loss of Mr Ben Tillett (Salford North) and Mr Ben Turner (Batley and Morley), and observes that Manchester Liberalism is totally eclipsed. The Morning Post, writing editorially when only a few results were available, says: “These show that the electors who trembled for the safety of the country and Empire may breathe freely. The danger has been averted.” FACTS AND FIGURES HOW THE PARTIES HAVE CHANGED. EXPANSION OF VOTING STRENGTH. Owing to the reduction of the Irish membership on account of the withdrawal of the Irish Free State from the British House of Commons, the total voting strength has been reduced by several millions since the election of 1918. Ever since the franchise was extended, and there have been several alterations during the past ninety years, the number of persons who have become entitled to vote has grown from one million to over twenty-one millions. In 1832, under the old franchise, 1,000,000 men were able to record their opinions This increased in 1867 to 2,500,000, and again in 1885 to 5,000,000. In 1918, the first year in which women were permitted to record their votes, the total of those entitled to vote had grown to 21,392,000. An official return in 1920 stated that those eligible totalled 21,775,583, of which 17,465,638 were in England and Wales, 2,306,966 were in Scotland, and 2,002,949 in Ireland. A more recent reutrn, however, puts the total in England and Wales at 17,657,723. The average population per member is: England (counties and boroughs), 71,005; Wales (counties and boroughs), 72,099; Scotland, 66,862; and Ireland, 43,000. THE LABOUR PARTY. In 1922 over 82 per cent, of the electors, men and women, recorded their votes; but last December the percentage, though not yet finally known, was not quite up to that of the 1922 election. Labour, as a party, came into existence in 1892, when it consisted of only fifteen members, under Mr J. Keir Hardie, which was reduced to twelve in 1895, and to eleven in 1900. The party was strongly augmented in 1906, when it blossomed out with fifty-two members under the same leader. At the January election of 1910 the party dropped back to forty members, and in December of the same year it increased by two. In 1918 sixty-two Labour members were re-

turned, which was more than doubled in 1922, when 139 were returned. Still advancing, the party grew stronger in 1923, when 191 members were returned in its interests, and the party became the official Opposition, and later, on the resignation of Mr Baldwin, occupied the Government benches. WORKING MAJORITIES. Working majorities in the British Parliament have fluctuated considerably, and it has long been a debatable subject as to what constitutes a workable majority. In 1886 the Unionists had a majority of 114, under Lord Salisbury, and remained in power for six years. It was then replaced by a Liberal Administration under Mr Gladstone, with a small majority of forty, which lasted for less than three years. For eleven years the Unionists held office under Lord Salisbury, Mr A. J. Balfour, and Mr Camp-bell-Bannerman, having majorities of 154 in 1895 and 134 in 1900. Then came the great “slide” of the Unionist Party in 1906, when Mr Asquith was returned with the substantial Liberal majority of 356, which was retained for four years. In 1910 there were two elections, in January and December, at which the Liberal majority was cut down considerably. At the beginning of the year it was 124, and at the end 126, but still under the Premiership of Mr Asquith. Then came the war years, and in 1918 the Coalition Ministry of Unionists, Liberals, and National Democratic Party, which had a majority over the other parties of 263. At the end of the Coalition, in 1922, the Conservatives had a majority of seventy-nine, and in 1923 came minority Government by the Labour Party under Mr Ramsay MacDonald. The final figures of the General Election of 1923 showed a severe Unionist reverse, 259 members of the party being returned, as against 346 at the dissolution. The strength of Labour was increased from 144 to 191, while the Liberals, once more a united party, increased from 117 to 154.