MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 258, 5 November 1906, Page 5

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Moderates' Overwhelming Victory. LONDON, November 3. In the municipal elections at Camberwell, Hampstead, Shoreditch, Deptford, Kensington, and Westminster the Moderates won heavily. Labour lost 13 seats at Woolwich. The Conservatives and Unionists won many seats in the provincial boroughs. The London County Council's 3 per cent Water Board shares rose considerably as the result of the elections.

The results of the London elections give 074 Moderates, 207 Progressives, 97 Independents, 32 Labour, and two Socialists elected. The Moderates hold a majority in 23 Councils, and the Progressives in three.

The""Daily Chronicle" says the result is due to the fear of Socialism, secondly the increase in the rates, and thirdly to the Poplar Borough Council's extravagance.

Mr. Balfour. speaking at the 1000 Club dinner in London, said the municipal elections had surprised both parties, and indicated that the country was realising the pretences whereby the Government had climbed to office. He ridiculed Sir H. Campbell-Banncrman's weak leadership, and declared that the Premier was always willing t o purchase votes by surrendering his leadership temporarily to tlie Irish, Welsh, or Labour sections. This was a real public danger.