WESTMINSTER BYE-ELECTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18965, 17 March 1924, Page 5

WESTMINSTER BYE-ELECTION

HOTTEST CONTEST FOR MANY YEARS 1 FOUR CANDIDATES FIGHTING HARD Received March 16, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, March 15. Westminster Abbey bye-election has developed into the hottest contest for many years, largely owing to Churchill’s Independent anti-Socialist candidature, which has been blessed by many leading Conservatives despite the fact that there is an official Conservative candidate in the field. Four candidates—Messrs Nicholson (Conservative), Churchill (Independent), Scott Duckers (Liberal) and Fenner Brockway (Labour)-—are fighting their hardest morning and night. Each ig convinced of success.

Mr. Churchill relies upon direct anti-Socialist appeal to draw votes from both Liberals and Conservatives in the electorate. On the other'hanL it is thouglrt that splitting the Conservative vote between Messrs Nicholson and Churchill may let Labour in. Mr. Churchill himself emphasises that the Labourite is his real oppouent, not Mr. Nicholson. Th e election is regarded as most important, as it is likely to show whether Labour can be successfully fought by an anti-SodaJ-ist party commading the support of both Liberals and Conservatives, or whether the allegiance of the parties is still strong enough to make the three-party system inevitable for some time to come. So far ns Labour is concerned, it is admitted on all sides that Labour is fighting an uphill battle in a Conservative stronghold like Westminster Abbey. The press attitude is as complex as the election itself. Mr. Churchill is being supported by th e Rothermere and Beaverbrook press, as "well as the Daily Telegraph, the faster on the ground that 'Mr Churchill’? (antiSocialist leadership is needed by the Ccmmons and the country. A notable development during the week-end was Earl Balfour’s letter to Mr- Churchill commending his candidature on the ground of a desire to se e Mr. Churchill once again use his brilliant gifts in the Commons. A more amusing development was Mr. George Bernard Shaw’s letter to Mr Brockway, promts! g his vote and adding: “Please don’t tell anyone, as nothing would terrify the Westminster voter more than the prospect of voting with yours faithfully.” He continued: "I ghould like to vote for Mr. Churchill, because I am the only man alive who cares to confess he thought Gallipoli a good idea and still thinks It would have justified itself if it had been carried out as concerned, but—. Regarding Russia, Mr. Churchill wants Tzardom back.” There were extraordinary scenes at Essex Hall, in the Strand, to-night, when the four candidates gave their views on the League of Nations. There seemed little difference in the candidates’ views, but there was much diference in their receptions. Mr. Churchill buttoned his coat and remained with Ms arms folded for five minutes while th e audience booed and cheered. Eventually he received a good hearing