Election Personal Notes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 11, 16 March 1910, Page 8

Election Personal Notes.

I LONDON, January 28. Mr. Will Crooks, the defeated candidate for Woolwich, is still smiling. Since the Woolwich result was announced, the postman has been delivering enormous mails, full, Mr. Crooks declares, of encouraging condolences and words of good cheer for the future. “There must have been thousands, and they are still arriving,” he said to an interviewer this week.

"It is very cheering to me to know that, although I have opponents, I cannot have many real enemies. “They are not all from supporters, I assure you, but only four out of the lot are of an objectionable character, which, I think, is very good, considered by the law of averages. "People have written from all parts of the country. People I know and people I have never heard of. Humble folk who can scarcely write and cannat

spell, and titled people with imposing na mes.

“It has amazed me. 'A Tory member, who has been more successful than I was, writes:—‘Dear Old Man Crooks, —< Deepest regrets. You were the only pal I had in the House.’

"Many of my old constituents have sent their condolences on postcards showing portraits of myself and Mrs. Crooks. One congratulates us both on * the smile that won’t wipe off,’ while regretting the ‘ slight set-back ’ which has occurred, “Some are rather funny. Here is a. laconic postcard;—‘ Smile, hang you, smile.’

“That’s just what I am doing. I don’t see anything to weep about.

“Here is another:—‘“Vox popuii, vox Dei.”—Quotation from speech by Mr, Crooks, 1906?

“Exactly. I said it in 1906, and I say it now. Also I am not grumbling at it,” • ... i

Mr A. St. George Hamerßley, K.C., the new Unionist member for Woodstock (Oxfordshire), has lived m New Zealand. Be was born in 1848, and was educated at Marlborough College, and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple. Having practised for some time in England, Mr Hamersley went to New Zealand, where he continued to practise, and commanded a contingent of the Militia ArtiU lery against the Maoris. Subsequentlyhe proceeded to Canada, and at the Dominion Bar. He was made < Queen’s Counsel in 1899. He played ii£ International Rugby matches for England for four years, and was captain of the English team against Scotland. He rowed for the Kingston Rowing Club at Henley and other regattas, and was instrumental in starting and encouraging the Rugby game in New Zealand, where he founded the Grand National Steeplechase Club.

Captain G. J. Sandys, the son-in-law of Mr Dunean Cameron, of Canterbury, won the Wells division of Somerset from the Liberals, the’ Unionist majority being 1’96. Captain Sandys went to South Africa during the Boer war with the Glamorganshire Yeomanry. For his services in the field he was given a commission in the sth Dragoon Guards, from which lie afterwards exchanged into the 2nd Life Guards. Owing to the breakdown of his health, he retired from the army.

Mr Percy Alden, the Liberal member for Tottenham, has travelled and lectured in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in America. Mr Alden edited the late “Echo” in London, and has worked, bird for University settlements in the East End of London.

The result of the Colne Valley election came as a thunderbolt to Socialists, for Mr Victor Grayson had been confident of victory, and did not disguse his surprise in the counting-room when the Libera! victory was declared. I he crowd surged round Mr Grayson’s motor-car, in which he sat with Mrs Robert Blatchford and his housekeeper. The people jeered and hooted the defeat<d Socialist, and flaunted their yellow favours in front of him.

Mr Grayson, addressing his supporters, asked, “Are we down-hearted?” “No” yelled the people. '1 hey had, Mr. Grayson continued, ought honourably, cleanly, vigorously, and had placed their glorious principles to the front. It was not the first time that the gospels had been temporarily obscured by clouds. Some 500 who vated for him last time had either died, lost tneir votes, or deserted him this time. He

concealed no grief, and his heart did not harbour one ounce of regret. The day "as coming when Socialism, the hope of the world, the future religion of humanity, would wipe oirt Liberalism and Toryism from the face of the earth. In the far-away Orkneys Mr. Catheart nason, the burly ex-New Zealander, is fighting a strenuous campaign to hold Ins seat in Parliament for the Liberals. Ife has visited nearly every parish in Shetland, he has been snowed up again and again, he lias had to address three meetings a day, struggling between them, oyer miles of untrodden snow, facing winds through which even an Arcadian ‘ tn only keep one eye open by “sheltering it with his nose.” He has snatched

.‘is few hours of sleep on hard country “ofas, and invigorated himself contentedly with the tea-and-scone repast of a Shet* land cottage.

Mr. Hemsley, his Tory rival, has galantly endured it all. He frankly conesses, however, that he has “had his

lhe Orkney folk come stalking into the election meeting after a walk of a dozen miles or so across country; they -make the snow from their jackets, and silently sit to attention. There are no < heers, no groans, no questions. If they a>e satisfied, one of their number solemn’.y rises at the conclusion anti moves a vote of thanks. But they are quite capable of being dissatisfied, and in that case toe candidate had better hurry home •icfore they begin work. Ihe Right Hon. Eugene Wason, brother of Mr. Cathcart Wason, had no dillieulty in winning the electoral fight in Clackmannan for the Liberals. Mr. -ugene Wason visited New Zeaalnd in 1897.

P. r - W. A. Chapple, of Wellington, has achieved the distinction of winning a, seat m the “ Mother of Parliaments” on >n» first candidature. His victory in the aberal interest in the Stirlingshire elee.Jon was announced this week. Dr. ' nappJc polled no fewer than 10,122 votes, *us opponent, Mr. J. G. Hqrne, Unionist,

polling 6417. The New Zealander thus retained the seat for the Liberals by the handsome majority of 3705.

Before coming to Great Britain, Dr. Chapple eat in the New Zealand Parliament, so that Mr. Cathcart Wason will no longer lie the only man who has held a seat in both the New Zealand and the Imperial Parliaments.