SIGNIFICANT VOTING

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1930, Page 11

SIGNIFICANT VOTING

LABOUR LOSES ONE SEAT,; THE EMPIRE CRUSADE ISSUE GAIN FOR CONSERVATIVES By Telegraph—Prc-w Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 5."> p.m. London, May 6. ' The West Fulham by-election, caused by the resignation of Dr. G. E. Spcro (Labour), resulted: — Sir Cyril Cobb (C) 10-223 J. A. Banfield (Lab.) 15,983 The result at the general election was: Dr. G. E. Spcro (Lab.) • 16,190 Sir C. Cobb. (0.) G. A. Gale (L.) a,920 "Not without significance is the first bv-eleetion at which the Government suffered defeat. It is the first at which Empire free trade has been a dominant issue. There had been six previous contests since the general election and Labour retained all "the scats. Now Labour has lost West Fulham, one of its 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 5ma11—32,206 or 63.8 pci- cent, voting out "of 50,616 on the register. The scat was for a long time held by a Conservative. 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.

“The only cause of the defeat was the apathy of my own people,” said Mr. Banfield. It is evident that many Liberals abstained from voting _ owing- to their anti-socialistic convictions.

Another interesting by-election is promised shortly. Sir Albert Bennett, Conservative meinber for Central Nottingham, is resigning. The Liberals are notexpected to contest the-seat, so it will be a straight fight between the Coneervatives and Labour on safeguarding, with speciifl' reference to the Nottingham lace industry. '■