British Elections.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1922, Page 3

British Elections.

AUSTUAI.IAN AND N.Z. CAIir.E ASSOCIATION. titk last return. (Received tliis day at 11.30 LONDON, Nov. 21. Sir R. Hamilton (Liberal) beat Sir Malcolm Smith (National Liberal) for Orkney-Shotlaiid seat. This is tjie final return of the •elections. Ha many MacDonald has been telecteu leader of the Labour Party.

the recent voting. (Received this day at 0.30 a.m ) , LONDON, November 21. Candidates stood at the recent election under so many descriptions, and with such qualifications of their political faith, that even yet it is un|K)ssible to arrive at absolute accuracy ,e»irdi"!i the state of parties. This is especially the ease with the various brands of Liberals, where members returned under many understandings. For instance Sir Alfred Mond, one of Mr Lb yd George Ministry "as returned „s a plain Liberal without any prefix. Yesterday he stood beside Mr Asquith in the House. On the other band, the National liberals claim

many members who stood without professing actual adherence to Mr Lloyd George’s leadership. The Conservative party is fairly solid but even its ranks include some who declared that if returned they would regard themselves as Independent of party Whips. Labourites are also solid with a small co-operative wing which will certainly vote with them on all important questions, Naturally all parties, their organisation and newspapers are claiming the totals most favourable to themselves, but the most reliable estimates

give state of parties ns follows, with one return still to come; Conservatives 344, Independent Conservatives 3, Labour 139; National Liberals 55; Liberals 59; Independents 5; Co-operative 4; Nationalists 2; Prohibition Communist and Sinn Fein, one each. The Government majority is 79.