LATEST CABLE NEWS BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1924, Page 3

LATEST CABLE NEWS BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Australian and n.z. cable association ELECTION NICSHT INCIDENTS. LONDON. Oct. HO. Declarations of the morning opened with the Conservatives’ tide still flowing strongly. Early returns showed a great Labourite attack in counties not promising well. Labour’s first light fol 1 Salisbury only resulted in the Conservative. Freeman, gaining the seat from the Liltornl.

Mr .1. Jl. Thomas, interviewed at Derby, said he would he a hypocrite if he did not say that he was a frankly disappointed man. The factor for tiie turnover was the anti-Labour combination. and also the Russian letter at tbo last moment, which played a tremendous part; but be was not in the least, dismayed.

Mr Asquith when leaving Glasgow for Euston, stated that lie did not intend to retire from public life, but would stand again. Mr Asquith’s defeat breaks a hitherto unbroken Liberal record of 38 years for Paisley. Mr Asquith accented his defeat most composedly and smiled when be told Mrs Asquith and Lady C'onbamcarter when the result was about to lie declared: “T am down.”

Addressing bis supporters subsefluently, Air Asquith said lie was profoundly disappointed with the result, hut they must accept the decision in the spirit of sportsmen and true Britons.

Miss Margaret Bonfield, sneaking at Northampton, referred to lieing partly handicapped by her absence in Canada in the early part of tbo campaign. She declared some of tile statements made about the Labour Party, and incidentally about herself, were scandalous. They were bringing political fighting down to the level of fights in old. rotten boroughs, when there was nothing but misrepresentation and corruption. As a sequel to the disorderly scenes at tbo Battersea 'Town Hall on election night, five men were charged at the Police Court, two of whom pleaded neurasthenia and were remanded, whilst three were discharged, one as mentally deficient. One was told to resume bis work.

Tbo Conservative slogan: “Vote for tbo Union Jack against, the Bed Flag” led to an exciting affray outside the Leyton Town Hall last night when the Labour supporters paraded in front of the building bearing tbo Bed Flag -which was several limes pulled down. Then the Union Jack appeared and was greeted with cheers and counter cheers. Suddenly a rush was made for the Union .Tack and there was a- short and sharp fight in which policemen were struck and helmets knocked off. Finally the (lag was rehoisted amid cheers. The appearance of mounted constables brought comparative quiet.

STATIC OF PARTIES. LONDON', October .11. Tho “Morning Post” says tlic state of parties is: Conservatives <lll .Labour l‘K> Liberals E 6 Others 4 Outstanding Id BiRVIEW OF POSITION. LONDON, Oetdlier 31.

That stable Government is now possible for four years, is the pronouncenietii of all moderate politicians. Even the Liberals who arc bitterly disappointed, and even resentful, at the debacle that their party has suffered, insist upon this aspect of the situation •

Tho Cabinet will meet on Friday to consider the question of resignation. If Mr MacDonald' decides to meet Parliament, thus getting time to clear up the, rights and wrongs of the Zinovieir publication, a want of confidence motion will be carried on November 20, but Mr Baldwin will already have prepared a list of new ministers, fm submission HJo t!ho King. It is exacted that Mr Austen Chamberlain will Ik? Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord Birchnliend may succeed I-ord Cave, who is in poor health, as Lord Chancellor. Mr Neville Chamberlain is likely to have the portfolio of Labour, and Lord Derby to he War Minister; Colonel Amcry, the Admiralty portfolio; Sir P. Lloyd Graeme the Board of Trade. The addition of Sir TL Horne and Mr Churchill will mako a Cabinet far stronger than Mr Baldwin’s ill-fated first administration. LOST DEPOSITS.

Sixty-four candidates, including Mr Tom Mini, forfeited their .CKO deposits because they failed to poll oneeighth of the total votes. Five of those penalised are women. Baron Huntingfield (a Queenslander) was "elected for the Eyo Division of Suffolk. INTERVIEWS. Mr J. It. Clyncs said in an interview that ha hour’s defeat is not a political disaster. It is tine to the manner in which the ’lory leaders were able to exploit misunderstandings and racial feeling in regard to Labour’s .Russian policy, lie said. Me are certain that the Conservatives later on will suffer the mortification of making an arrangement with Russia similar to that which Labour proposed. They won’t dare to reverse Labour’s Foreign Policy.

The “Workers' Weekly,” commenting on the victory of what it calls ‘•Tory Imepi'ialism,” says: Alter 8 months, the Labour Government aroused neither enthusiasm nor hope. It betrayed tho principles of the class it represents. The Labour leaders hate been guilty of treachery, which brought about their defeat.

Tho “Daily Chronicle’s” political correspondent, says: Mr Baldwin’s huge ■majority was given to him in a panic. The Zinovieff letter convinced largo sections of the electors that the Government was under the control of dangerous extremists. The electors saw “Red 1” There is general agreement that tho women’s vote has played a great part in the revolt. Though 'the Liberals nominated nearly a hundred fewer candidates than in 1023 there were polled almost three million Liberal votes. They are thus entitled to two and a half as many Members as they got.

The “Daily Express” says: Tho Conservatives’ triumph confounds the wildest optimism. It is largely due to the advocacy of the popular newspapers. The Opposition in the New Parliament will he dangerously weak, and the Conservatives must steadfastly lesist their tendency towards the right. A revulsion against extreme .Socialism does not mean that the electors desire four years of extreme diehardism. The Tory democracy must be a real democracy.

The “Daily Telegraph” points out: It is in tho centres of the industrial population that Socialism has been routed. It is the masses whom tho Laliour Party profess to know and understand better than others who have been quietly waiting an opportunity to rid themselves of Mr MacDonald and his colleagues. Notice to quit was never served on any Ministry in n more imperative form The “Daily Mail” says: It is a victory of the common people over the forces of folly and disorder. The conn try needs a Government with the same firmness and contempt for delusions as the electors have shown. Die “Morning Post” says: The electorate has given the Conservative Party a clear indication that its first duty is to fight this horrible evil of international Socialism. Let us make no mistake. The fight is not over. _ It is only beginning. The Communists who have been driven out from their hohl upon the Government will seek

to avenge themselves through the power they maintain in our industrial life. Tile ‘•.Morning Post” prior to its comment on lighting Socialism, says: “The Communists brought about the downfall of the Socialist Government. They first undermined the Government in the trade unions. Then they forced them into such extreme courses as the the Campbell ease. They followed them even to the polls with the Zinoviclf letter. Thov made Communism the issue at these elections.”

Tbo ‘Daily Herald” says: “At all event we know where we are. "Wo have shaken off the false friends. The three party system was a nuisance. The English mind could not understand it. It would have taken a long time to destroy it by gradually beating the Liberals. Fortunately, they decided to save us that trouble. They committed suicide.”

Tile “Herald” proceeds to nffirm that Ijilrour’s o] pononts bad a fresh lie every morning, and as soon as it was exposed, they dropped it and got another ready. The paper concludes: ‘•One of the duties of the Labourites now is to reason with the British Communists, and persuade them to drop their notion that a few obscure people could somehow bulldoze Britain and bold it down by force. Tbo Bed Plot was an imbecility, and its exploitation of popular fear, especially the women’s fears, would have been impossible but for the noisy threats of British communism.”

LONDON, October 31. Air MacDonald, in a speech at Cardiff. said they sometimes found that a defeat was the finest tiling that could happen to any party. In view of the state of trade and of the general outlook, be did not envy the Tory Party their job. At Aberavon Air AlacDonald’s supporters frcnziedlv sang. ‘'The Bed Flag.” Air MacDonald, appearing weary after the campaign, said: Labour is up against the maximum of the reactionary movement, but let them all conic.

AGGREGATE VOTER. LONDON, October 31. The ” -Morning Post ” states the totals of the votes east were:— For Conservative-Constitu-tionalists 7,807,01’ I For Socialists 5,505,107 For l.ilierals 2,877,319 Independents 70,730 Communists >15,582 Republicans 18,700 Five outstanding I’niversity polls will be declared between the Ist and 13tli of November. The Aryla, Fermanagh and Inverness (Western Isles) in a few davs.

THE VICTORY GENERAL. LONDON, October 31. How great is the blow Liberalism ms received is shown in the fact that ts old strongholds, like Cornwall and )evon have gone entirely Conservaivc.

The triump of the Conservatives is lot confined to any area or type of cat. It is as noticeable in the iudusrial as in the agricultural centres, nd extends to the Clyde and other iarts of Scotand.

Air Baldwin is receiving shoals of telegrams of congratulation. He is leaving for a short rest in the country, after the strain of the campaign. Air Baldwin, in a congratulatory massage to the Conservative supporters, says: “You have achieved a phenomenal victory, more than justifying tho confidence I have always bad in the political judgment and common-sense of the British people when confronted by a grave issue.” The Conservative headquarters arc in the highest spirits, and are ol opinion that the results of the election are most satisfactory, fulfilling their anticipations.

LABOUR’S VOTE. LONDON. October 31. At Aberavon. Air •MacDonald said

that Labour’s poll totalled live million votes. This was a wonderful manifestation of its power. The Labourites are not too disappointed. with the result ol the election. They point out that the aggregate Labour vote shows a marked increase hut luck has been against them as regards representation. They declare that Labour, as the only alternative Government, must sooner or later gain an absolute majority. Well-informed Labourites express the opinion now that Mr R. MacDonald will resign before Parliament meets, to allow time for the formation of a Conservative Cabinet, which would submit tho King’s speech to the

House of Commons. One objection to Mr MacDonald’s immediate resignation is his intention to fully inquire into the Zinovielf letter.

VICTOR OF ASQHTTII. LONDON. October 31. Mr Maxton and the Clvdesiders had much to do with tho defeat of Mr Asquith, at Paisley, though Mr Mitchell, tho victor is a totally different type from the other Scottish Labourites. Re is a young successful Glasgow lawver. and a member of the Glasgow Town Council. He contested one election as a Liberal. He is one of tho most polished orators in the Labour movement. His da I tore-I- platform style and his faculty of descriptive phrases have earned him the sobriquet of “The Pocket Rosebery."

LANDSLIDE TO COXSERVA'I TM’.S. JiAAU LONDON, Oct. 30. When Yesterday’s Conservative victories turned to-dnv. into a landslide, which represented a turnover of votes unequalled since 1900. all calculations were upset. A Conservative majority over all parties was expected, but imhodv anticipated it would be p orted by the practical anniliilatnu ol the Liberal Party. . , Tn the Counties tho Conservatives triumph was remarkable. sex. Herts. Berkshire. Rucks. Hai t«. Lincolnshire, Somerset. M iltsluic.. Warwickshire. Worcestershire. Dorsetshire. Kent, Surrey and Bedfordshire' all are completely Conservative. I nst crowds hoard the result. LONDON, Oct. 30. M r Asquith’s, defeat is attributed to the Conservatives with-holding support, and so marking their displeasure at his placing the Labourites in power in 1923. Tt leaves the road clear for Mr Lloyd George to assume the Liberal leadership. Mr Asquith says Ins defeat nm clue to the steady growth of the Socialist position, which is penetrating certain parts of Scotland. The Liberals must accept the decision in a British sporting spirit.

FOUR WOMEN MEMBERS. LONDON. Oct, 31

Only four women were elected out of forty-one candidates, namely Lady Astor, the Countess of Atholb -Mrs Philipson (Consernvtivcs) and the newcomer. Miss Wilkinson (Labour). Last year eight women were return--0(1. _ The women secured -101.750 votes. The Conservative, the honourable Mrs IRroderfek, was defeated by a Liberal. Mrs Davis, in Denbigh.

GERMAN VIEW OF RESULT. BERLIN. Oct. 30. The magnitude of tho Conservative victory in Britain, and the overwhelming Liberal losses, have surprised the German press, which unanimously a ..roes Mr Baldwin’s Premiership will i,ot mean any change in the Foreign Policv. ns far as Germany is concernod and that the fall of the Labour Government will not affect Anglo-Ger-mnn relations, except possibly, in legard to commercial negotiations.

LONDON, Oct. 31. A high official of the Liberal Party declared that the returns overwhelmingly demonstrated the need lor such a reform in the electoral system as would deliver the country from the peril of minority representation. The mute of the l.ilieiul Party lias astonished political circles. Even the Conservatives regret the eclipse <>t their historic opponents, but the Liberals staunchly declared their eclipse is only temporary. I bey suggest the disaster is due. not so much to the fact that the country voted anti-Liberal. as to the fact that it voted anti-Labour. Undoubtedly many voters, normally Liberal, voted Conservative in order to keep out Labourites, Liberals are of the opinion that the informal pact was to the advantage of the Conservatives more than to tbo Liberals, as the Conservatives did not vote lor Liberal so freely as did the Liberals for Conservatives.

ELECTION ECHOES. LONDON. Oct 31. Probably the youngest voter at the election was a baby twenty-two months old, who was taken to the polling station at Truro by its mother and allowed to vote, as its name was on the register. A woman voter at Dudley was taken ill and gave birth to twins, when she arrived home. They will l>c named after the rival candidates.

EFFECT on AUSTRALIA. (Received this day at 9.25 a.in.) AIEI.BOURNE, Nov. 1. Air W. AI. Hughes, commenting on the British Elections, said that Labour’s chances of victory in Australia at next election had not been strengthened by the defeat of the British

i.iiboiir Party in the consequent removal of the probable bail example of tbo S)ingrap(/.e base which will now be constructed. But Australia will have to atone her defence policy to the strategy which is developing in '-the Southern Pacific. On the strength of Air Baldwin’s speeches we iinay expect some measure (it trade preference in the near future. The election bad been a most complete and crushing reply to the Soviet propaganda.

“TIMES” COMMENT.

[“The Times” Service.]

(Received this day at 9.15 a.m.) LONDON. October 31.

Despite the greatness and decisiveness of victory, it would lie a grave error to imagine wo will not bo troubled with Socialists for a long time. LaIxnir is not only the second strongest party but tile voting shows the defeat is not due to any diminishing energy or discipline. ‘Tile Socialists have been beaten, not because it did less well than last election, but the Conservatives did •much better. Socialists claim they increased their aggregate vote and the setback is temporary. There is just sufficient truth in these statements to warn opponents to constantly remain on guard, not relaxing the most intelligent vigilance. If they relapse into the customary apathy and reserve their strength for the next election, they will find the rank and file meantime had joined to the other side. 'There is no room for neutrals. Whoever is not actively against Socialism is for it. The Liberals cheek may not be more than temporary. The election was fought under circumstances particularly unfavourable to Liberalism. 'The nation was asked to decide the broad issue of So ialism and replied effectively.

INTERESTING figures. LONDON. October 31. The "Daily News” in a demand for electoral reform, points out 7.500 2 Conservative votes returned over four hundred memliers and 8.->OO.OOO Liber-al-Labour less than two hundred members. A Conservative was elected for every 19.(532 Conservative votes. Labour for 38.171, Liberal 91.100.