The Home Elections

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5, 1 February 1906, Page 20

The Home Elections

The most sanguine Lib-oral could scarcely have hoped for the overwhelming defeat which has been suffered by the Conservatives in the elections now proceeding in the 'United Kingdom. A few months ago— before Parliament adjourned— Mr. Balfour, the late Premier, had a working majority of 70 in a House of 670 members. After the election of 1000, he had a nominal majority of 131. The Conservatives and Liberal Unionists together numbered 402, whilst the Opposition could only muster 208—180 Liberals and 82 Nationalists. The Labour Party in Great Britain were represented in the last Parliament by 10 members, the latest returns show that the workers have realised their power, and have acted accordingly. The rout of the Conservatives and the Liberal Unionists has been made more emphatic by the defeat of so many of their leaders. The latest returns give the position of parties as follows :— Liberals, 375 ; Nationalists, 83 ; Labour 51 • Unionists, 152 ; total, 661. / ' ' The Nationalists have improved their position in Ulster by winning West Belfast, for which Mr. J. Devlin has been returned, and which was represented some years ago by Mr. T. Sexton, now managing director of the Dublin ' Freeman's Journal ' ; and Tyrone North. On the other hand they have, it appears, lost one of the Dublin seats.