Riddle of the Polls

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 675, 29 May 1929, Page 11

Riddle of the Polls

MYSTIFICATION IN BRITAIN One New Zealander Stands HOOLIGANISM ENTERS CAMPAIGN

(( nited P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (United Service) noMDTrIV 5 Pm - LONDON, Tuesday. | ' JJXIFJj ETE mystification reg-arding the result of the elecaon on Thursday exists. .Practically everywhere there has not even been the shadow of an issue to alter the position, wnile the flapper vote clouds the horizon more than ever.

In addition to a roll of 5,000,000 new ' oters, the flapper vote has made extraordinary changes. For example, electorate jumps from 44,000 to 81,000; Yardley from 39,000 “ “' 000: Romford from '46,000 to 98/100; Hendon, from 40,000 to 84,000 Fifteen Australians and one New Zealander are contesting seats, the New Zealander being Captain Reginald Berkeley, Liberal, who is standing for North Aberdeen. At' the byelection In 1925. Captain Wedgwood Benn (Labour) had nearly a 6,000 majority, and he Is standing again. The electorate has 46,000 electors. Among the Australians, contesting the elections, the Rev. Mr.' Norwood, at Stoke Newington, sets the highest standard: but with his Idealism for the world and peace, to the exclusion of more intimate domestic issues, he is not making much headway against a well-entrenched Conservative.

devoting their time to making per sonal canvasses.

Uproar closed the meeting of a woman Conservative candidate for the Everton division of Liverpool, and she had to be led In an exhausted condition through a hostile crowd of several thousand people. The ..meeting of the Conservative candidate for the Exchange division of Liverpool was broken up in a similar way this evening. A hostile crowd threw “stink bombs” Into the hall.

Viscountess Astor (Conservative) took part in a strange scene at Plymouth in Wood Courtyard, one of the worst type of tenement districts. Waving an umbrella and shouting to hostile women who were leaning with their heads out of windows, Lady Astor cried: “You pack of Bolshies.” The officials at Liberal headquarters have issued a forecast of the result of tlie election. In this they predict that the Government will lose 200 seats, more than half of which will go to the Liberals. The party leaders continue to make speeches throughout the country, many of them having established records for travel. Mr. Lloyd George, after a strenuous tour in Wales, arrived in Lancashire today. It was noticed that he showed some signs of fatigue. Many front-rank members of the Cabinet are now converging on Birmingham for the last days of the campaign. There interesting contests are expected.

former Australian journalist, Mr. Leonard Matters (Labour) is opposing the Conservative candidate in the Kenmngton Division of Lambeth and is considered to have a good chance.

As polling day (Thursday) approaches many of the election meetings of all the political parties are characterised by organised hooliganism.

Liberal speakers have withdrawn from further meetings in the North Southwark constituency owing to persistent disorder and interruptions. Candidates, instead of speaking, are