The Press Friday, October 31, 1924. The British Elections.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 8

The Press Friday, October 31, 1924. The British Elections.

On the results available as we write, the Unionists seem to have done exceptionally well at the polls, Labour not very well, and the Liberals extremely badly. In the absence of the actual figures it is unwise to make any forecast of Mr Baldwin's chances of a working majority, and until Ave can do that we cannot say whether the election, has been a blessing or a waste of time and money. But wc can say that there is a good hope of such a result, since the expectations aroused by the results already announced are strengthened by the comments—only progress comments, of course—of the extreme wings of the Press. With the "Morning Post" announcing that "the danger has been "averted," and the "Daily Herald" expecting a Conservative victory, partly at the expense of Labour, but far more at the expense of the Liberals, it can hardly bo rash to suppose that this actually will be the result if the returns already to hand are representative. In the ordinary course we should expect the strongholds of Labour—the mining areas and big industrial centres —to be as prompt with their returns as any, but as communication is extremely good over the whole Kingdom, there can hardly be a geographical factor at all. So also it is idle to attach importance to the defeat of individuals. Mr Asquith, for example, has been defeated by a Labour opponent, while several prominent Labour members —including two very distinguished women—have also been unseated; but it is better at this stage to regard those merely as picturesque incidents. The absence of Mr Asquith from the House —especially if he remains absent —may, however, have important reactions on the fortunes of the Liberal Party. Indeed, the most important consideration of all is the effect the apparent annihilation of the Liberals will have en the grouping cf Parties. If the House reassembles with only a leaderless remnant of Liberalism it should not be very long before this disappears Right and Left.

And if we turn as we wait to a consideration of the causes that have produced this possibly happy result, we must hope, whether it proves a justified hope or not, that the chief factor has been a broad consideration of really vital issues. It does not matter much, except as a sign, whether the Communist Campbell was properly or improperly released from trial, or whether the Foreign Secretary or the Foreign Office officials blundered in the matter of the Eed Plot letter. But it does matter that there should be calm and earnest consideration of the meaning of a Socialist defeat. There is no merit in "half-masting the Eed "Flag" unless the object is to prevent visionaries and hot-heads from rushing the country into risky experiments. Mr Baldwin put the matter quite fairly when he said that the only vital issue was whether the country would have a Government pledged to Socialism or would continue the natural evolution of its social system. If there is a Unionist victory, and if it has been brought about by the desire of the public to creep a little farther before it runs, that is something to be genuinely grateful for; and there is reason to suppose that it does mean this rather than that the Government has made seme ridiculous blunders. In New Zealand also the lesson clearly is—however the unknown results turn out —that the sooner the line of cleavage is admitted to be. that between safe progress and hot haste the better it will be for all classes.