THE BRITISH ELECTIONS

Wairarapa Age, 31 October 1924, Page 5

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS

SOLID CONSERVATIVE GAINS LABOUR LOSES GROUND LIBERALS MELTING AWAY Sufficient of ths returns from the British general election are to hand to indicate that the Conservatives have improved their position substantially, chiefly at the expense of the Liberals; and that Labour has lost 20 or 30 of its following. The Conservatives appear assured pf an independent majority in the new House of Commons, The most noteworthy defeats are of Mr Asquith, Mr Ben Tillett and-Mr McNamara. Tom Mann, as a Communist, lost his deposit.

FOBTUNES OF THE GREAT. MB. ASQUITH FALLS. (Press Association—Copyright.) Mr Asquith, the Liberal Leader, was beaten for the Paisley seat by Mr Mitchell (Labour) in a straight contest', by 2228 votes. Mr Merriman (Conservative) displaced Mr C. F. G. Masterman (Liberal) for Rusholme, Manchester. Mr Arthur Henderson was elected for Burnley in s. three-cornered fight against Mr Fairbairn (Cons.), with a majority of 4465, compared with 7037 in his straight fight with a Conservative in February. The Liberal housing expert, Mr E. D. Simon, was defeated for Withington (Manchester) by the Conservative. Mr C. P. Trevelyan beat Mr F. M. B. Fisher at Newcastie-on-Tyne. Sir C. Kinloch Cooke (C.) defeated Sir Donald McLean (Liberal) for Cardiff East. Mr Austen Chamberlain, Sir Hama-r Greenwood, and Sir Newton Moore are elected. The Communist, Mr Saklatvala, beat Mr Hogbin for Battersea North. Sir H. Brittain was re elected, beating Mr Levinson for Acton. The famous oarsman. B. C. Bourne (C.), retained Oxford with an increased majority. A Liberal gained the Welsh University, defeating the Labour candidate. A Labourite won Barnsley, though a Conservative stood down to give the Liberal a straight fight.' The intervention of the Liberals in Exeter and Farnworth resulted in an increase of the Conservative majority in Exeter to 8163, and a decrease of the Labour majority in Farnworth to 2806. / I LANCASHIRE TURNOVER. CONSERVATIVE GAINS. , The Conservatives gained Manchester, and Salford, where Mr Ben Tillett was beaten. They gained Stockton-on-Tees and Great Yarmouth from the Liberals in three-cornered fights, as well as Manchester Exchange, Salford South, S&lford West, Salford North, Wakefield. The Conservatives gained from Labour in South Salford. Other Conservative gains rapidly followed, Labour losing Wakefield, Salford West, and also Salford North, where Mr Ben Tillett, who, last year defeated the Conservative in a straight fight, lost ts the same candidate in a three-cornered contest with a Liberal. , Miss Wilkinson (Labour), the first woman elected, gained Middlesborough in a three-cornered fight. Miss Margaret Bondfield was beaten at Northampton; Lady Astor was re-elected for Sutton (Plymouth). BRISK OPENING AND HEAVY FOLD. (Received 5.5 p.m.)

London, Oet. 29.—The polling opened in fine weather all over the country. j' The Conservatives, pointing out that Labour was sure to poll every vote, urged their supporters to recognise that every vote was precious, using as a slogan, “The Bed Flag must be kept half-masted. '■ The Liberals urged their supporters to vote Literal for safety. Brisk opening scenes, including hundreds of women standing in a queue outside the polling booths, indicated a heavy poll. A ehana-bane crowded with Conservative children touring Bolton collapsed. One was killed and 10 were injured.—(Sun). Pact Favours Conservatives. A feature of the elections thus far is the big increase in all the polls wherever there was a straight fight. The Liberal-Conservative pact Worked perfectly. This accounted for the ma. jority of the Conservative gains, but there was a considerable accretion of the Conservative vote, especially in Lancashire, owing to the dear food cry being no longer operative. Mr L. S. Amery was reelected. Mrs Susan Lawrence was beaten. Mr MacNamara was behind at the first count. Mr Asquith’s seat was known to be in danger, and also Miss Bondfield's. Five Conservative gains were recorded before 9.45 p.m., though the polling stations were mostly open till nine. The counting everywhere was very speedy. Ben Tillett’s Defeat. The defeat of Mr Tillett, the hero of many, Labour fights, disheartened the Socialists. It was understood that

Mr Henderson at Burnley was shaky, but he hold the seat with a substantial 'drop in his majority. The Lancashire results generally encouraged the Conservatives. The Labourites cheered the return of their first woman member, Miss Wilkinson (Middlesbrough East). The decline in the Liberal fortunes was strikingly shown at Grimsby, where Mr Tom King, whose name was once one to conjure with, was at the bottom of the poll. Mr Jewett (Bradford East) was defeated, a Liberal gain.— A.. and N.Z.) Receiving the Results. In the afternoon the'weather changed, and there was a relentless downpour of rain from 5 p.m. Londoners turned out in large numbers in Fleet street, the Strand, and Trafalgar Square to hear the results. The crowds, despite the bad weather, thronged the West End. Last year a sudden fog obscured the illuminated results. This year crowds everywhere watched under dripping umbrellas. Thousands stood patiently for hours in Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, the Strand, Oxford street, and other centres.

Hawkers paraded carnival wares, but there was little demand, the crowd' mostly preferring to patronise the vendors of hot chestnuts. Never were such elaborate arrangements made for the announcement of the results. The newspapers, hotels, great stores and ships all competed 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.—(A. and N.Z.). A progress statement. (Received 7.30 p.m.) London, Oct. 30.—The latest election results show the state of parties to be— Conservatives . 165 Labour 75 Liberals 23 Miscellaneous ........ 4 The Conservatives have gained 23 seats from Labour and 30 from the Liberals. The Liberals have gained 7 from Labour. Labour has gained 12 from the Liberals and 6 from the Conservatives. , The Communists gained one from the Liberals. Mr Neville Chamberlain' held Ladywood (Birmingham) against a hot attack by Sir Oswald Mosley (Labour), with a majority of 77, the Liberal candidate polling only 539. The result was announced after five recounts. MINISTERS RE-ELECTED. (Received 5.5 p.m.) London, Oct. Rt. Hon. J. B. Clynes (Lord Exivy Seal) and Mr Stephen Walsh, Secretary for War, are re-elected.—(Reuter.) Mr Thomas’s personal popularity in the railway centre of Derby assured his re-election, but he is chagrined by having a Conservative colleague at Westminster, Captain Luce defeating Mr Raynes, the second of the Labour string, by 250 votes.—(A. and N.Z.) A CONSERVATIVE VICTORY. WILL MR. ASQUITH RETIRE! (Received 9.20 p.m.) London, Oet. 30.—1 t is notable that both of Mr Arthur Henderson’s sons are beaten (Arthur, junior, in Cardiff and William in Enfield). The “Daily Telegraph” says Mr Asquith’s defeat will be deplored by Conservatives as well as Liberals. The former, realising Labour’s desperate efforts to capture his seat, kept out of the field and gave Mr Asquith support. The London results arrived late, nearly midnight. The Conservative anticipations of gains in Hackney were realised.

The “Morning Post,” writing editorially when only a few results were available, said: “These show that the electors, who trembled for the safety of the country and the Empire, may breathe freely. The danger has been averted.” No Hope for Communist. The “Daily Herald,” in an early edition, features the huge slump in the Liberal vote and Labour fighting hard against the pact. The “Herald” says: “There is every indication of a Conservative victory at the polls, partly at the expense of Labour, but mainly at the expense of the Liberal Party, which has suffered a crushing defeat. Most of the Labour losses are due to the operation of the Lib-

eral-Conservative pact in constituencies where Labour last year won by a minority of votes in three-cornered fights.” The “Herald” regrets the loss of Ben Tillett (Salford North) and Ben Turner (Batley) and Morley, and observes that Manchester Liberalism is totally eclipsed. Tom Mann, who stood as a Communist in Nottingham East, forfeits his deposit. Mr Ashmead Bartlett gained Ham- 1 mersmith North from the Labourite (Mr Gardner). Ho is author of the famous despatch describing the Anzac landing at Gallipoli. Despite Mr Lloyd George’s intervention in North-west Camberwell Mr Macnamara is at the bottom of the poll, 4500 below the Conservative. It is recalled that Lady Bonham Carter (Mr Asquith’s daughter) said on Tuesday that Mr Asquith would not stand again if defeated.—(A. and tf.Z.) UPS AND DOWNS. HUMOURS OF THE FIGHT. (Received 8.40 p.m.) London, Oct. 30.—Mr Leach, Undersecretary, is among the defeated Labourites. Ho succeeded in his intention of defeating the Liberal’s chance at Nottingham Central, where the Conservative (Bennett) gained the seat by a majority of 8255. Mr Baldwin’s son, Oliver (Labour), was defeated at Dudley, but reduced the Conservative majority to 885, the Liberal candidates standing down. A Conservative (Sir W. Lugden) gained Hartlepool, defeating by 3353 Liberal (Jqwitt), who voted for the Government in the “Workers’ Weekly” division. Major Cowen (Conservative), who lost both legs in the war, retained the Fairfield division of Liverpool, defeating Mrs Mercer (Mayor-elect of Birkenhead) by a majority of 5865. Mr R. A. Taylor, the Labourite mayor-elect of Lincoln, gained Lincoln from the Conservative (Mr T. Davies) in, a triangular fight by a majority of 39. Taylor i? a shop assistant, an exstudent of Ruskin College and propagandist for the agricultural labourers.

How Minister Fared. Mr J. R. Clynes was elected for the Platting division of Manchester in a three-cornered fight by a majority of 1065. Tom Mann was defeated in Notts East in a three-cornered fight. Nottingham is now represented by three Conservatives and one Labourite. A Conservative, General Sir A. Holland, gained Northampton from a Labourite (Miss Margaret Bondfield) in a triangular fight, the Liberal being a boot manufacturer. Mr Stephen Walsh was re-elected for the Ince division of Lancashire, defeating a Conservative. Lady Diana’s Offer. A Conservative, Mr . Duff-Cooper, gained one seat in Oldham from Labour, the second seat being retained by Sir Edward Grigg (Liberal). During the campaign -his wife, Lady Diana Duff-Cooper (daughter of the Duke of Rutland), promised to dance in public in wooden clogs if her husband was returned. Polling Early apd Heavy. The polling began in many constituencies unusually early, the returning officers having used their discretion to fix the polling from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., instead of the normal 8 to 8. In London the morning polling was unusually heavy, particularly among the women. Outside some of the Louden’s booths there were large queues awaiting the opening like first-night queues at the theatres. Brixton, a populous district, reported that 60 per cent of last year’s poll was already registered by noon. • All Sorts and Conditions. A member of the London County Council, arriving in pyjamas and overcoat at 6.45 a.m., maintained his long reputation by being the first voter in East Fulham. Another early voter was a man aged 80, who tottered with the help ef a stick. 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 the custody of a constable. Hospitals Kept Busy. The casualty department of the West London hospital at Hammersmith was kept busy as the result of election fights. Patients poured in all the afternoon suffering from blaek eyes, broken noses and arms and sprained wrists. Some of the cases wore women, but none was serious. As in Days of Old. Mr Churchill revived the practice of bygone days by driving around the constituency in a coach and four flying a large Union Jack.—(Reuter.) A BUNCH OF SAMPLES. LIBERAL LEADER RETIRES. (Received/10.40 p.m.) London, Oet. 30.—Lord Eustace Percy (Conservative) was re-eleeted for Hastings, defeating the Labour candidate, Mrs Porter (an Australian). The Liberal retired. Mrs Mary Hamilton was one of the unsuccessful Labour candidates at Blackburn, where Mr J. Duckworth (Liberal) and Sir S. Henn (Conservative) were re-elected. A Conservative gained Bath from the Liberal in a three-eornered contest in which a Labourite intervened to spoil the Liberals’ chances. The Labourite Mr Pethick Lawrence, originator of the capital levy, was re-elected in Leicester West. Sir Walter de Frece (Cons.), the husband of Vesta Tilley, gained Blackpool from the Liberal, Colonel Meyler. The Parsee Communist Saklatvala regained Battersoa North by a majority of 502 from Mr Hogbin (Lib.), who ousted hint last December. Mr Hogbin is leader of the Liberal group which tends to support the Conservative's. The Liberal ex-Ministcr, Mr Master-

.man was defeated by Mr Merriman (Coils.) in a three-cornered fight for Rusfiolme (Manchester), where the Communist (Paul) was assisted by Campbell, editor of the “Workers’ Weekly.”

The veteran Labourite Mr J. Sexton was re-eleeted at St. Helens (Lancashire), defeating Miss Pilkington (Cons.) Mr. Asquith Retires.

Mr Asquith, having been defeated at Paisley, retires from public life in accordance with his announced intention.

The successful candidate at Paisley was the Labour advocate, Mr Bosslyn Mitchell, whose majority was 2228. A Labour Minister (Mr Leach) was defeated in Bradford Central. He was famous for his “pacifist speeches while in office. A Liberal stood down, and in a straight fight the Conservative (Colonel Gadie) won by 1202.—(Reuter.) MORE CONSERVATIVE GAINS. (Received 1.35 a.m.) London,O ct. 30.—Lady Astor’s majority was 5079. Mr Austen Chamberlain was re-elected for Birmingham West with a majority of 7654 over the Communist, Dr. Dunstan. Sir Hamar Greenwood (Con.) was elected for Walthamstow East. Mr Arthur Ponsonby (Minister) was elected in a straight-out fight with a Conservative in the Brightside division of Sheffield, by a majority of 3345. Richmond (Surrey) returned a Conservative, Sir Newton Moore. Mr J. H. Thomas was elected for Derby with at majority of 2251. A Conservative, Sir H. Cayger, was elected for Portsmouth South, defeating Miss Jessie Steephen (Lab.). The Minister, Mr Jowett, was defeated in Bradford East by a Liberal majority of 60. The Conservative retired.. Dr. Haden Guest (Secretary of the Labour Commonwealth group, was re-elected for Southwark North’ by a majority of 1030 in a three-cornered contest.— (Reuter.)