BRITISH ELECTIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 52, 23 October 1931, Page 3

BRITISH ELECTIONS

(Press Assn.

CAMPAIGN PROGRESS SEVERAL LEADERS HAVING STIFF FIGHTS FOR SEATS GOVERNMENT'S PROSPECTS

— By Telegraph — Copyright.)

Rec. Oct. 22, 11.30 p.m. ' LONDON, Thursday. The general election campaign eontinues to go favourably for the- National Governmdnt. Labour admits that it is distined for the Opposition benches, but is striving to secure the [ return of at least 200 members. Mr. Arhur Henderson, leader of the Labour Party is* having a stiff fight at Burnley against Rear-Admiral Campbell, V.C., the "Q" Boat hero. Mr. Henderson, in his speeches, dwells on the work he did as Foreign Seeretary. Iie reads tributes to himself from the newspapers of the time and from foreign ministers. Admiral Campbell is a good candidate from the Nationalist point of view. His chance. of success depends entirely on what proportion of the 12,502 Liberal votes cast in 1929 will go to him. The Communist candidate is unlilcely to get them. If they are added to the 20,137 Conservative votes cast in 1929, Mr. Henderson will be defeated. Mr J. H„ Thomas, Seeretary for the Dominions in both the late Labour and the present National Cabinets, is having an up-hill fight at Derby. In his speeches he is keeping Empire unity in the forefront. He said yesterday that he did not think a tax on food was necessary as nearly everything was obtainable within the British Commonwealth. Sir Herbert Samuel, the Liberal leader is having a diffieult struggle at Darwen which is one of the so-called "pendulum" seats, which may easily revert to the Conservative, Captain Graham, a strong candidate, who refuses to withdraw. Other seats regarded as being in danger are those held in the last Parliament by Miss Ellen Wilkinson (Middlesborough) , Misg Margaret Bondfield (Wallsend), and Miss M. Phillips (Sunderland).