BYE-ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1930, Page 6

BYE-ELECTION

i United Press Association—By Elect™

Telegraph—Copyright)

- 7 LONDON, May 6

The West Fulham bye-election, caused by the resignation of Dr G. E. Spero (Labour) resulted : Sir Cyril Cobib (Conservative) 16.223 J. A. Ranfield (Labour) ... 15,983

EYE-ELECTION

LONDON, May 7

It .is -not without significance that the first bye-election at which the Government lias suffered defeat is the first election at which Empire Free Trade has been the dominant issue. There have been six previous contests since the general election. The Labourites retained all of those seats. Now they hyive lost West Fulham which was one : of the Labour Party’s triumphs of the last general election. Before crediting the result wholly to the new political issue, yit njust be noted that in spite of tremendous efforts on the part of both sides, the poll was a 'small one.- Only 32,206 electors, or 63.8 per cent, voting out of the. 50,616 on the register. Secondly, this seat - was,' for a’ lofig period, held by the Conservative Party and by the newly elected member himself. Even the Labour Party was surprised by its victory there last year. Nevertheless, the press says the result is a most striking, tremendous advertisement for the new crusade,

LABOURITE’S DEFEAT

LONDON, May 7. Speaking after the election, the Labour candidate, Mr BanfieJd, said: “The only cause of my defeat was the pathy of my own people.” It is evident that many of the Liberals in the district abstained from voting, owing to their anti-Socialist convictions. *

ANOTHER BYE-ELECTJON,

LONDON, May 7,

Another interesting bye-election is promised shortly. Sir Albert Bennet, the Conservative Member for Central Nottingham, is resigning. The -Laterals are not expected to contest the seat, so that it will be a straight fight between the Conservative and Labour Parties on the safeguarding duty issue with special reference to the Nottingham lace industry.

LABOURITE’S SUPPORT

LONDON, May 7,

Mr Brownlie staggered 52 delegates at the annual meeting of the Amalgamated Engineering Union by saying in his presidential address: “Notwithstanding the fact that I may be deemed by the high priests of the Labour Party to be committing heresy, I say that you cannot get a further reduction of hours in this country apart from safeguarding.” Asked later to repeat his statement Mr Brownlie said that he had not spoken hastily. The matter would he entered in the minutes for discussion.