BRITISH BY-ELECTION

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21689, 27 March 1942, Page 4

BRITISH BY-ELECTION

CONSERVATIVE DEFEATED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 27, 11.30 a.m.) * LONDON, March 26 In the Grantham by-election Mr W. D. Kendall (Independent), 11,758, defeated Sir Arthur Longmore (Conservative), 11,391. This is the first time that a National Government candidate has been defeated since the outbreak of the war. Only about 45 per cent of the electors voted. Mr Kendall, who is managing director of an engineering firm at Grantham employing 5000, had declared his support for Mr Churchill, but said: “Parliament needs a man to focus attention on the inadequate war production.” After the result of the by-election was announced Mr Kendall issued a writ for alleged libel against Sir Arthur Longmore, but later withdrew it. Air-Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore recently retired from the position of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Middle East, to enable him to enter politics. He stated that he was retiring to facilitate the promotion of younger officers. WIN FOR WAFDISTS EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS (I'nilpcj Press Assn.—Elor rri. copyright) CAIRO, March 26 The final election returns show that the Wafdists secured 216 seats in the Chamber ot Deputies from a possible 264. Other parties represented are: Independents, 13; Liberals, 4; Watanists, 2; Saadist, 1. The other 28 members were re-elected unopposed. The ex-Prime Minister, Sirry Pasha, was among those who were defeated. The state of the parties after the 1938 election was as follows:—Sirry Pasha’s supporters, 99; Saadists, 84; Independents, 68; Wafdists, 12.