HOUSE OF COMMONS

Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 6

HOUSE OF COMMONS

FIVE BY-ELECTIONS LAST WEEK SET-BACK FOR GOVERNMENT LLOYD GEORGE IN FIGHTING FORM Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 23. The week’s miniature General Election was a black one for the Government. It I'onght live by-elections which were Conservative seats, and retained only two, and those were won with remarkably reduced majorities, indeed, it is difficult for the Government to take consolation from any of the numerous by-elections during the life of the present Government. Those seats which it has hold have been held with considerably reduced majorities, while it has suffered a not loss of fifteen seats, twelve to Labour and three to the Liberals. The most recent contests make it as clear as can reasonably be expected that Labour is stronger to-day in industrial Hritain than at any other period in history. The sweeping victory in North Lanark, where Miss Jennie Leo won by 15,711 votes, against the Conservative 9,133 and the Liberal ‘-’,138, may be accepted as a reasonably clear index of the feelings of-the industrial centres, but that the Socialist, tide runs feebly in rural and semi-rural areas is abundantly clear from the Holland-with-llo.ston result, where the Liberals secured ] ,3.000 votes. Labour 9,294, the Conservatives 8,257. and the Independents 3.5 M. 'flic Conservatives thus lost 7,000 votes, while the Liberals increased their total by an equal number. Mere, then. Liberalism has administered a resounding blow to the Government, just as it did at Ecldishnry yesterday, which even in the. Lreetrade election ol 1923 remained Conservative.

I Labour confesses open disappoint--1 ment at its failure in the rural i centres, hut Conservatism lias cause I not so much for disappointment as for alarm, ft is apparent that while nival ; England is refusing to swallow the j Socialistic medicine, it is definitely I casting around for a new doctor, who | seems opportunely to have arrived in I the fighting personality of _Mr Lloyd George. There are many indications, i however, that the Liberals will not bo I left alone to administer succour to the i rural centres. Labour, with the fes--1 sons learned dnihig the past months, :is likelv to withdraw large forces from the'safer industrial centres and concentrate on the countryside. Tim increase in tho Liberal vote is causing many who preached that Liberalism was a spent force hurriedly to recast their views, and Ministerial organs d) not seek to deny that defeat is plainly apparent. Conservatives, even Mr Baldwin, have made onslaught on “ waverers and grousers and people with eoid feet.” Liberalism has taken ■ the centre of tho stage because both parties paid it evidently the sincere compliment of concentrating criticism thereupon. It will bo an election with the gloves i off, and Mr Lloyd George is the target. I Lord Birkenhead says Mr Lloyd George 1 reminds him of a very active wasp hej neatfi an inverted tumbler. Lord Mel- ■ chett says lie lias become the jackanapes ,of British politics. Sir William Joyn- ' son Hicks asks: “ Is Mr Lloyd George tiie on!v man of hr*ins in the world? ” Mr -Baldwin says: “His feet arc no longer on the ground.” Meanwhile Mr Lloyd George is hu.-y telegraphing to tho Liberal victors in picturesque language, such as_ “the linger of doom,” “ Toryism is discredited, and cannot he repaired.”

The ‘Manchester Guardian,” _editorialiy welcoming the Liberal victories, speaks of the country’s weariness of the present Government and its protracted futility.

The ‘ Morning .Post ’ says; “ It passes comprehension what the tanners expect from Liberalism, and how can they trust Mr Lloyd George, the arch deceiver of the rustic maiden? ” Tho ‘Daily Express’ says: “ T,<> cry that all is well in tho face of such elect; ifying results is .neither loyally nor common sense, ’flic question on everyone’s lips is Is there time for the Government to save itself? The real battle is coming on the question ol whether the Government will enter like conquerors or a beaten force. Whatever tho outcome of the General Flection, the hy-elections in the past month reveal these significant figures:— Labour 92,828, Conservatives 73,331, Liberals 7)B,DCS. —Australian Press Association. I

THE NEW LIBERAL MEMBER. LONDON, March 23. .Mr Blinded!, tho new Liberal member for Holland-with-Boslon, is the son of an agricultural labourer. He began life as au errand boy, and is now managing director of Blindells, Ltd., Boot Factory at Grimsby.—Australian Press Association. THE LIBERAL CRUSADE. LONDON, March 23. 'The Liberals are holding 10,000 meetings in April throughout the country. —Australian Press Association. MR GARVIN'S VIEWS. LONDON, March 2L Mr J. L. Garvin, in the ‘ Observer,’ referring, to the week’s by-elections, said he bad expected a bad result, but not so bad as it really was. The country demands something which Cabinet refuses —a bold constructive policy for dealing with unemployment. Mr Baldwin, oil the present showing, is heading for a disaster nearly as black as 1922. It is no longer a question of losing 100 seats, the real danger is of losing 150, —Australian Press Association.