AFTER THE POLL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 2

AFTER THE POLL.

CANDIDATES’ ADDRESSES. LONDON December 7. Mr J. R. Ciynes (Labour, Platting), commenting on his election for the eleventh time, declared that the re- - suit indicated that the Labour Party before long would be, not his Majesty’s Opposition, but his Majesty’s Government. Mr Churchill stated that whatever might be the consequences, he would never associate himself with the violent movement of the Left or the extreme reaction of the Right. He was certain, from the results, that Protection had been broken to pieces. Mr Asquith was loudly cheered. He stated that Paisley was an impregnable citadel of Liberalism. Liberals throughthe country were routing both Protection and Socialism. Labour gains, especially in London, became impressive. Crowds in the Labour centres hailed the defeats of Sir Montague Barlow, Sir Alfred Mond and Mr Winston Churchill as signal victories, while the success of both Mr A. Henderson’s sons, each gaining seats from Conservatives consoled the father and the party for of his Newcastle seatMr Henderson’s case is curiously the same as in the 1922 election when he lost Widnes, and had to wait till a by-election to secure a seat. Sir Montague Barlow was strongly attacked by Labourites on his dealings at the Labour Ministry with unemployment. Wholly unexpected was the defeat of Admiral Sir Reginald Hall, the chief agent of the Unionist P^rty. There is evidence of Conservative abstentions 'on a largo scale, while there were some remarkable drops in majorities, hotably at Grimsby, from 9499 to 1618, Wkllaeev 7524 to 845, Exchange (Liverpool) 3036 to 229. Sir Edwin Stockton, whom the “Morning Post” calls “the most perverse ■ and pronounced Conservative Free Trader,” lost his seat to a Liberal on a total poll cff only 55 per cent of the electorate. Miss Susan Lawrence won East Ham North, and is the first woman Labour member. Seven women candidates have been defeated. Mr Lloyd George heard the results listening-in in his Surrey home. He is satisfied so far, but added: “We are not out of the wood yet.” As a matter of fact, tho rotes iu three-fifths of the constituencies remam uncounted.