“AN OPEN SEASON”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 9

“AN OPEN SEASON”

ELECTION FORECASTS IN ENGLAND LLOYD GEORGE LAYS THE ODDS (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) LONDON’, Thursday. It is an open season for election forecasts at present. The Home Secretary, Sir William JoynstonHicks, says: “I have never had any doubt as to the result. I have always said we will have a majority over all the other parties of between 60 and 70. It will be more difficult than was the last election. My tip is: Conservatives, 338 members; Labour, 214; Liberals, 60; Independents, 3.” The former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden, savs he thinks the Liberals have 60 to 70 members. The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, in a recent speech, said he did not think the Liberals would come into office. They might hold the balance of voting power. Mr. Lloyd George, who is due back from his trip to the Dardanelles, tomorrow, said: “1 will lay 2 to 1 against either a Conservative or Labour majority.” GAINS FOR LABOUR BATTERSEA BY-ELECTION (United Service) LONDON, Friday. The Battersea by-election, due to YTscount Curzon’s elevation to the peerage, resulted in a Labour victory. The figures are: Bennett (Labour) .. .. 11,789 Shelley (Conservative) . . 11,213 Alba (Liberal) 2,858 At the previous election Viscount Curzon, the Conservative candidate, polled 19,558 votes and his Labour opponent. Mr. A. J. Winfield, 14,371 votes. WIN FOR M.P’S WIFE (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.46 a.m. LONDON, Friday. The by-election held in consequence of the death of the Rt. Hon. Ben Spoor Labour member for Bishop Auckland, resulted: Mrs. Hugh Dalton (Labour), wife of Dr. Dalton, Labour member for Camberwell Peckham; 14,797 votes; Mr. A. Curry (Liberal), 7,725; Mr. H. Thompson (Conservative), 3,357. VACANT CONSERVATIVE SEAT • ( United Service) LONDON, Friday. The death has occurred of Mr. Arthur Wellesley Dean, Conservative member of the House of Commons for the Holland Division of Lincolnshire. The result of the last election at Hol-land-with-Boston was: Mr. A. W. Dean, 15,459 votes; Mr. G. R. B. "White (Labour), 10,659 votes; and Mr. R. P. "Winfrey (Liberal), 6,413 votes.