ELECTIONS IN BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15864, 8 December 1923, Page 7

ELECTIONS IN BRITAIN

GOMSEeVATIVE PARTY'S PEVERSE 41 SEATS LOST LABOUR CAINS 22 AID LIBERALS 19 MB CHURCHILL OEFEATEO' The results so far Indicate that the Baldwin Government , which went to the country on the policy of preferential tariff ha 3 suffered a severe reverse. They.have lost a large number of seats, and those Conservatives who have been returned have been accorded greatly reduced majorities. The last election gave the Conservatives a majority of 77 overall parties, but the loss already sustained has wiped out the margin, leaving the party still the strongest in the new Parliament, but opposed by a majority comprising two parties.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. LONDON, December 7. The latest election returns', giving 2Gi results out of the total of 015, show the position of Hie parties as follows: — Conservatives .. 11l Labour .. .- 78 liberals .. •• 69 Independents' ' .. 6 The gains and losses of the parties are:— Conservatives, net loss, 41. Liberals, net gain, 19. Labour, net gain, 22. As the Conservatives are unlikely to gain any seats in the Home Counties, ■and as' they will probably lose a few seats in Scotland, it seems that Mr Baldwin's majority is gone, and that none of the three parties will be able to carry on alone. The results show that the boroughs in the North of England are more Free Trade than ever, and Manchester in particular still clings to Cobdcnism. The following table shows' the change in the representation of Manchester and Liverpool:— MANCHESTER. 1923 1922 Conservatives 1 7 Liberals 5 0 Labour .. .. 4 3 LIVERPOOL. 1923 1922 Conservatives .- S 10 Liberals ..2 0 Independent 1 1 The only Minister who has been defeated so far is Sir Montagu Barlow, Minister for Labour. Mr H. H. Asqutih was re-elected at Paisley. Mf Arthur Henderson (Labour) was defeated at Newcastle-upon-Tyne by a Liberal, Sir R. Aske, but both Mr Henderson's sons were elected. Lady Astor (Conservative) was reelected at Plymouth. A new woman member elected is Miss Susan Lawrence (.Labour), who gained East Ham North in a triangular contest. Mr C. P. Trevelyan (Labour) was elected at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central division, defeating Mr P. M. B. Pusher (Conservative). Mr Percy Harris (Liberal;, also formerly of. New Zealand, was re-elected at Bcthnail Green, Southwest. Colonel John Ward (Independent) was re-elected at Stoke-upon-Tent. Mr D. Kirkwood (Labour) was reelected for Dumbarton. Among the Ministers re-elected are, Sir Samuel Hoare, Minister for Air, Chelsea; Sir T. W. 11. Inskip, SolicitorGeneral, Bristol Central; Sir Douglas Hogg, Attorney-General, St. Mary'lebone; Sir W. Joynson Hicks, Financial Secretary of the Treasury, Twickenham; and Sir P. Lloyd Greame, President of tlie Board of Trade, Hendon. The Labour leaders, Mr J. H. Thomas, Derby, and Mr J. R. Ciynes, Platting Division, Manchester, were re-elected. Mr C. G. Ammon (Labour) was reelected for Camberwell North, handsomely defeating Dame Helen Gwynnc ■Vaughan (Conservative). Sir Harry Brit tain (Conservative) was re-elected for Acton, Middlesex. Mr E. Scrymgeour (ProhibiMonist) and Mr E. D. Morel (Labour) were reelected for Dundee. Mr W. J. Tout (Labour) and Sir Edward Grigg (Liberal) were re-elected for Oldham. Dr. T. J. Macnamara (Liberal) was re-elected for North-West Camberwell, defeating the Labour candidate after a recount. Liberal Gains* The following are among the seats gained by Liberals: — MANCHESTER. Moss Side Division. T. R. Ackroyd (Lib.) 12,210 G. B. Hurst (Cons.) 9097 (1922, Hurst 11,932; Ackroyd 6743). Russholme Division. £. F. G. Masterman (Lib.) .. .. 10,901 J. H. Thorpe (Cons.) 8876 Paul (Lab.) .. . 5366 1922, Thorpe 11,765; Sutton, Lib., 6421; Wood, Lab., 6397). Blackley Division. P. M. Oliver (Lib.) 12,235 W. J. 11. Briggs (Cons. Free Trader) .. 6313 (1922,, Briggs 9023; Oliver, 6219; Townsend, Lab. 5580.) : . Exchange Division. Barclay (Lib.) .. 12,248 Sir E. E. Stockton (Cons- Free Trader) 10,449 (1922, Stockton 13,919; Barton, Lib., 10,148). BATH. - Rafferty (Lib.) •. .- 13,694 C. T. Foxcroft (Cons) 12,830 (1922, Foxcroft 13,666; Spender, Lib., 8699; Elvin, Lab., 4849). AGORINGTON. Edwards (Lib.) .. 19,981 C. R. Buxton (Lab.) 16,793 (1922, Buxton 16,462; Gray, Cons., 11,408; Baker, Lib., 9395). Liberals also gained from Conservatives 'the Wavertree and West'Derby divisions of Liverpool- The defeated •Conservatives were Sir if. Smith, K.C., brother of the Earl of Birkenhead, who had a majority of over .3000 against a Labour candidate at Wavertree at Ihe last election, and IRcar-Admiral Sir 11, Hall, whose majority at West Derby at flic last -election, also against a Labour candidate, was over 9000. A Liberal gain from Labour was the Kcighley division, West Yorkshire, where Mr Pilkington, >a Western Australian, defeated Mr H. ;B. Lees Smith, the late sitting member. Mr H-ogbin (Liberal) gained Battersea' North from the P.arscc Communist,, Mr Saklatvala, ...... --■—- - -

Labour Gains. The following are among the seats gained by Labour: — WAKEFIELD. Sherwood (Lab.) .. 7966 R. G. Ellis (Cons.) .. 7345 Lassen (Ljb.) .. 4640 (1922, Ellis 10,416; Bellamy, Lab., 9798). SALFORD. South Division. Toole (Lab.) .. 12,097 Sir M. Barlow (Cons.) 9360 J.ones (Lib.)' .. 4851 (1922, Sir M. Barlow was unopposed.) Labour also gained the West Swansea seat; defeated Sir Alfred Mond (Liberal). Defeat of Mr Churchill. .Mr Winston Churchill, the Liberal candidate for West Leicester, was defeated by Mr Pelhick Lawrence (Labour), the author of the capital levy scheme. The .polling- was:— P. Lawrence (Lab.) 13,624 W. Churchill (Lib.) 9236 Johnstone (Cons.) 7696 At the general election in the seat was won by A. Hill (Lab-), 12,929, against J. F .Green (Nat. Lib.), 8137, and G. E. Spere (Lib.), 7631. Mr Churchjll's defeat was known in London at midnight, and caused an immense sensation in Trafalgar Square, and theatres, restaurants and other places, where the results were announced by wireless. The Sutton division of Manchester and Warrington were gained for Labour from Hie Conservatives and the Liberals respectively by Mr Sutton and Mr Dukes. ... rvlr Ben Tillet Elected. Among other interesting contests were the following: — SALFORD. North Division. Ben Tillet (Lab.) 13,371 Finburg (Cons- Free Trader) .. •• 12,810 (1922. —Tillet, 11,368; Finburg, 11,349; Jolly, Lib., 4660. YARMOUTH, GREAT. A. Harbord (Lib.) .. .. 11,116 Sir A Home (Cons.) .. 8,492 Wrigley (Lab.) 2,138 (1922. —Harbord, 9836; Crookshank, Cons., 8917; Whiting, Lab., 2574.) Three Conservative Gains. The Conservatives gained the Middlcton and Prestwieh divisions of Lancashire and the Park division of Sheffield from Liberals. , Where Conservatives held their seats there was a large turnover of votes, notably in the following divisions:— LIVERPOOL. Exchange Division. Sir Leslie Scott (Cons.) 10,551 Grogan (Irish ind.) .... 10,332 (1922. —Scott, 15,650; Devlin, Irish Nat,, 12,614.) ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Sir W. de Frece (Cons.) 7813 Greenwood (Lib.) .. .. 7574 Miss Wilkinson (Comm.) 6208 (1922. —De Frece, 12,006; Gillinder, Lab., 8834.) At Cheltenham Sir J. Agg-Gardner (Cons.), who entered Parliament under Disraeli, was re-elected with a greatly reduced majority. LATEST N SIR D. fWcLEAN DEFEATED. SIR WORTHINGTON EVANS ' REJECTED. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received December 8, 9.26 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. Mr T. Scurr (an Australian born LabcuriLe) gained the Mile-end division of Stepney. Sir .1. 11. JJavinson (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) 'defeated Mr Fredlc. Guest.

Mr J. M. Hogge and Mrs Wintringham have been elected.

Mr Sidney Webb and Mrs Philipson were re-elected.. Mr J. W. Molden (Liberal) was at the bottom of the poll in Islington West, which is a Labour gain in a triangular fight. Doctor Chappie (Liberal) beat the Conservative, General Chartcris, in Dumfries. South Shields results were: ExSenator Harvey 22,912, Lowthor I Labour) 15,717. Hon. W. C. Bridgcman ( Oswestryj, Lady Terrington (Wycombe). Mr Ronald McNeill (Canterbury), Sir Bobert Home (Hillhead), have been elected. _, . Sir Donald Mac Lean and Countess Waiwick were beaten. c;ir \ L. Stanley (Liberal) was beaten at Knutsford by the Conservative, Brigadier Makins, by a majority of 80. . , Sir Guv Gaunt had a narrow victory in Buokrosc with a majority of 21 i over the Liberal. The Aylesbury results were: T. Kpciis (Liberal), 13,576; Sir A. Burgovnc (Conservative), 13.504; Watkins (Labour), 1275. -This is a Liberal gain. Sir John Simon was re-elected for Spen Valley. The Northampton poll resulted: M.iss Margaret Bondheld (Labour; .15,57)6: Collier (Conservative) 11,520; C. A. Mo-Curdy (Liberal), iL'o'ii.. Sir Itobort Sanders has beaten. Sir L. WortMngton Evans.

Messfo Smillie, Norton, Griffiths were elected.

Messrs Baldwin, Amcry, A. Chamberlain, Neville Ghamberlsin, Ramsay Macri.oiv.ild, and D.r W. A. Chappie, the Duchess of Atholl (Conservative) and Mr Frank Hodges (Labour) have been elected. ~'

Newbold (Communist) was beaten. The Paisley figures were: Asquith 9723, Co-operative candidate 7977, Consrvative candidate 7755, Labourite 3685. Hon. Tv.J". MacManana's majority was 80 in a three cornered fight. STATE OF PARTIES. GAINS AND LOSSES. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) LONDON, Dec." 7. The 'state of parties at 4 o'clock this afteraon was:—■ Conservatives .. .„ .. -,,- 222 Labourites .. .„•>.: ..'■>. 158 Liberals ; . .. .. .. r . .. 128 Independent .......... S Total 516 The House comprises 707 members. The gains are eleven Conservatives, 60 Liberals, 51 Labourites. Losses: 86 Conservatives, 23 Liberals, 12 Labourites, 1 independent. The voting strength of parties is as follows : Conservatives .. .. 1.982,000 Labour 1,904,000. Liberals 1,509,000 LIBERALS SATISFIED. NO MANDATE FOR TARIFF 1 REFORM. SURPRISES AT LIVERPOOL. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received December 8, 10.40 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. The Liberals regard the day's results as most satisfactory, destroying Mr Baldwin's chance of getting a tariff mandate. Manchester has again demonstrated its allegiance to free trade. Though such a landslide was not anticipated, scenes of enthusiasm were unprecedented. Mr Clynes retained hi© seat, but it was found that the ten members elected included only one Unionist instead of seven. The Liberals have five members (all gains) and Labour four s(an Increase of one). The Liberal gain in Nottingham East is notable, owing *o the 'fact that the lace trade strongly agitates for protection. Liverpool provided the real surprises. The Conservatives fully expected Lord Derby's sen, Stanley, to win back the Edgehill seat which was lost to Labour last March, but he failed. Mr Crawford Greene (Conservative) won Worcester from the sitting Liberal. Mr Ashmcad Barblelt, the war correspondent, failed in Hamemrsmith. Mr Spencer (Liberal) retained Badfbrd South. The Daily Express comments.: wins the election the Empire will be beaten.'' It is rumoured that Mr Winston Churchill will be asked to contest West Derbyshire, where the election was postponed owing to the death of Mr C. F. White (the Liberal candidate), against the Marquis of Harlingtn. LABOURITES JUBILANT. STILL OFFICLAL OPPOSITIONMR HENDERSON'S DEFEAT. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received December S, 1.1.20 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 7 ""' Labour headquarters this morning are jubilant, at the result of the elecr tions, wbicb have so far emphasised the disappearance of the Government majority and the fact thatLabour'could still claim to be the official opposition. The Labour successes are to the intensive, work of the Labour Party during, the last two years and also the consistent determined altitude in regard to unemployment. It is pointed out that it is very, significant that the Conservatives have so" far gained no seats from Labour.

The defeat of Mr Arthur Henderson is much regretted by the Labourites. It is pointed out that the Liberals and Conservatives combined against him, the Conservative candidate having withdrawn. SILENT CONSERVATIVES. AWAITING THE FINALS. EFFECT OF DEAR FOOD CRY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received December S, 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. Conservative headquarters ,are unwilling to make a statement in regard to the election before the returns are complete. The defeats arcj attributed entirely to the '"dear" cry, which in the circumstances of a hurried election gave no time to effectively contradict tit.

Mr Winston Churchill arrived in London at noon, and appeared to be

in high spirits. He declined to discuss the situation. He said he had not heard the rumour that he had been invited to contest the West Derby.

Mr Asquith and Lady Bonham Carter, on leaving Glasgow for London to-day expressed delight at ihe results,'Mrs Asquith exclaiming "Is it not wonderful'.'" NO PRESS COMMENTS. LIBERAL GAINS ADMITTED. SETBACK FOR MR BALDWIN. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received December 8, 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. newspapers do net attempt editorial comment on the results, but their-headlines partially indicate their views. The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post are obviously disappointed. They admit many Liberal gains. The .Liberal papers describe the results as a Libcrx! wave. The Daily Herald stresses that Labour is in front of ihe Liberals and says that Mr Stanley Baldwin's policy has everywhere suffered a setback. Laboir gained 12 seats in and around London. WEIRDLY WONDERFUL. NIGHT SCENES IN LONDON. ANNOUNCING THE RESULTS. Received December 8, 1.30 p.m. LONDON, December 7. The night scenes in London were weirdly wonderful. A fog blotted out the blazing electric lights of Picatlillv Circus, Shaftsbury Avenue, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, and the huge crowds were transformed into phantom multitudes. Everywhere screens were erected on which to flash the results, but these were seen only by those close to them, who passed on the news to invisible throngs.

Great cheering was heard in Trafalgar Square, but nothing was seen except stray torches, fireworks and coloured lights-

Hawkers trundled barrows selling ; hot chestnuts and fruit among the ■> crowd, and they also sold rattles, . mouth organs and other noispmakers.y ' Owing to the weather the hotels and clubs were crowded and thou- '/''■■ sands, had the greatest difftcuUy m ' getting' homeu ' Street traffic in many parts was stopped. The ballot boxes were collected with diißeulty and several from Camberwejt were reported to be lost, but later they arrjvedi at the town hall, the' results consequently being later than' usual. There were Mvely scenes at Batter-* sea outside the town hall. An enormous crowd repeatedly sung the "Red" Flag," and indulged in free fights. ; Mr Saklatvala, the Communist candidate, appealed from the'baleony :for ' order ajia" the new member managed to leave the town hall without inter- . ference, but the crowd remained n°isy and several arrests were made. Th polling generally passed off quietly. -- Eight centenarians voted including ; Mrs Lett, of Birmingham, who Is 103. , The late Mr. John Bright's daughter voted for fre e trade. \ >/ In the Welts division the Labour .-V party organised bands of women to attend to the children of invalids* ■" while their mothers voted. \ : J ■. -. \ ' FURTHER DECLARATIONS. ADDITIONAL SIJRPRiSES. HOPES FOILED . (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received December 8, 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 7, The Duchess of "Atholl (Conser-var tive) gained Kinross seat defeating Mr Molten (Liberal) by a majority of, 650. v ; Lady , Terringtorc's majority in the triangular contest at Wycombe was 1682. Earl Wintetrtoa was re-elected for Horsham. Mr Lloyd George's majority was; 5177. \::'.:M Mr Hodges defeated two Liberals. 1 . 1; A Labourite (Colonel Beaucharap. Wiliams) gaiiied the Keniugton division of Lambeth in a three cornered fight. Colonel Amery's return by an increased majority in the SparkbroQfc. division made Birmingham solidly pro- . Government, but Mr Neville Chamberlain's majority in the Lady Wood division was reduced to 155.4Mr Stanley Baldwins majority .:■ in ■-. ■■.•.•; Bewolcy injcreased to 6369. - Eleven women defeated yesterday . : " : included the Labourite, Miss Jessie Stephen, by the Conservative, Major . :■; Cayzcr, in Portsmouth South. To-day's declarations opened seasa- , lionally. . •• The Liberal gain in Basingstoke (•Hampshire) was shortly followed by fthe anouncement that Miss Bondfield had gained Northampton. Hon W. G. A. Ormsby Gore, UnderSecretary for the Colonics, was re- . elected in Stafford. The capture of Bridgewater from ~: Sir Robert Saaders by air W. E. Morse • . (Liberal) with a majority of " 1431, - brought a climax to the number of Government reverses in the agrl- ■ ' cultural districts where.the "Gevernr meni hopes had been the strongest. The most, notable were Liberal gains in ■ : Frome, Sudbury and Salisbury. . ;i .-..' A Labourite, named Young, gained the Patrick Division of Glasgow in a triangular contest, defeating Mr Allan '/,■: Smith (Conservative Wee Trader) and Mr McCallum Scott (Libgral), while the Labourite," Mr 'Ben Smith, gained the Rotharbathe division of Ber-r mondsey against the Concervatiye and r Liberal candidates. Mr Steel Maitland was re-elected In the Eldington division of Birmingham. ■.. Mr Fletcher Moulton (Liberal) ,• gained Salisbury, defeating a ConseFr vative and a Liberal. Mr Mitchell similarly gained Perth, London is represented by 30 Con- / servatives, 11 Liberals and 21 Labourites. ~ ; Fifeshire's' representation is unchanged. General Sir Hamar Greenwood was defeated in Sunderland, where the two Conservatives were re-elected. . Sir Robert Home was re-elected in a triangular contest in Hillhead. Mr Ramsay MacDonald's majority '0 -.';■; Aberavon was 3512. Edinburgh has returned one Cons3rvative, three Liberals and one Labourite- compared with two Conservatives, two Liberals and one Labourite in the ? last Parliament. Glasgow has 5 Con- ' servatives, 0 Liberals, and 10 Labourite members, compared with four, one and 10 respectively. The Labourite, Mr Tom Kennedy, --, gained Kirkcaldy from the Liberal can.- , didate. The Labourites, Messrs Adamson, Shirwell and Lansbury, were re-elect-ed. • ■ The Liberal, Mr Comyns Carr, re- .-. gained East Islington in a triangular contest in which the Labourite woman candidate, Dr Ethel Bentham, was at H the bottom of the poll. The In dependent-Conservative, Mc Ferguson, gained Motherwell (Lanarkshire) in a trangular fight. Lanark- m shire is now represented by six bourites and one Conservative ■ pared with five Labourites, one -ComJBM munist and one Conservative in last Parliament. The Labourite gained Lanark at the ' expense of the popular Conservative ." Minister, Captain Elliott. The London boroughs of L.e.wisham, Paddinglon and Wandsworth voted solidly Conservative and Poplar solidly Labour. ,' ;