THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1919, Page 7

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

I COMPOSITION OF NEW HOUSE. GOVERNMENT'S PRONOUMEIJ SUCCESS. j) V London, Dsc. 29, An analysis of the final returns, except one which has not come in, gives the composition of the sew iHouse as follows: ,

Coalition Unionists es«»sr" , **sv.M 334 Coalition Liberals 133 Coalition Labor 10 Unionists ...... 50 Liberals .. 28 Labor m>-■ G'2 Independents (comprising two' of the National party) u . ■ 1 Socialist ........... I-in 1 Co-operative 1 Discharged sailors and soldiers and

four unclassified .-j 8 Nationalists L . ... ' —-TTT-TTr.-gr) 1 Sinn Feiners 73

It is estimated the number of nonCoalition Liberals vary owing to the Labor Party claiming several as practically Laborites, but the above analysis is based on the official party label. All Irish Unionists are excluded from the above list of Coalition Unionists because the scheme of labelling Coalition candidates is not applied to Ireland. Of course the Irish Unionists, numbering approximately twenty-seven, are expected to support the Government in most matters.

A close study of the figures emphasises the Coalition's pronounced success in every group of constituencies in Britain. Of fifty-three out of sixty-one scats which the Government won in London boroughs, the Unionists got forty-two and the Liberals eleven. The other London representatives are two nonpledged Unionists—Sir Norton Griffiths (Central Wandsworth),and Mr. J. Hopkins (South East St. Pancras), and three Liberals and two Laborites, neither of whom were opposed by Coalitionists, and one independent, Horatio Bottomlcy

Of 193 members elected for other English boroughs, 149 are supporters of the Government, comprising 106 Unionists, 36 Liberals, and 3even Laborites: The remainder are sixteen Unionists, three Liberals, twenty Laborites, four independents. one Irish Nationalist. In the English counties are 191 Coalition members out of a total of -230, the Unionists again forming la.rge majority with 149, compared with 40 Liberals and two Laborites. The , unpledged Liberals number 12, and unpledged Uiiiorists 2, Laborites 22, Independents 91

In Wales 20 Coalitionists were returned out of 33 seats, the others being 10 Laborites, 3 unpledged 'Unionists, and 2 unpledged Liberals.

The Scottish boroughs returned 23 Government supporters, namely, 15 Unionists, and a. Liberals, the remaining members being live unpledged Liberals and 5 Laborites. In the Scottish counties, !3 Unicni=t« and 17 Liberals were elected under the Coalition banner, tha others being 9 unpledged Unionists, 3 unpledged Liberals, and 3 laborites. Nationalists and 11 Sinn Feiners wer-? returned, while the counties are represented by 15 Unionists, 4 Nationalists, and fil yinn Feiners.

The proceedings in connection with the declaration of tlie poll were orderly throughout Ireland. While the Sinn Feiners almost routed the Nationalists in Ireland they did r.ot make much impression in Ulster. Following are some typical Irish results:—Westmeath: Ginnell (Sinn Feiner), 12 435. Weynes (Nationalist) 3453; Londonderry City: H. Henry (Unionist), 8942; Conway (Nationalist), 3!>81, Wals'i (Sinn Feiner), 3425; South Tipperary: Moloney (Sinn Feiner), $744, Cullinan (Nationalist), 2701.

FEATURES OF THE ELECTION. DEFEAT OF MR. ASQUTTH AND HIS FOLLOWERS. TURNOVER TO SINN FEIN" IN IRELAND. London, Dec 2f>. The most.notable features of the election are the downfall of Mr Asquith and -lis followers, together with the huge majorities the Coalitionists obtained over their opponents in nearly all contests. Apart from the Countess of Markevicz, who easily beat the Nationalists for St. Patrick's, Dublin no women were elected. The Irish returns show a remarkable turnover to the Sinn Fein, including a heavy majority against Mr Dillon, the Nationalist leader. Hayes, a Sinn Feiner, won in East Limerick by a majority of 2142. Tho Sinn Fein scored successes at Clontarf, West Wicklow, Louth, Queen's County, Londonderry City. Ginnell won West Meath by a majority of nine thousand. Devlin beat De Valera for the Falls division. The Unionists carried North and South Londonderry, INorth Antrim, Northwest 'Down and Tyrone South. An immense woman's vote was cast for the coalition. Numbers of women invalidated their ballot papers by writing messages thereon. Many soldiers did not vote, felt scribled across the paper: "We want demobilisation before politics."

The Sinn Feiners celebrated their success by ton fires on hill-tops and torchlight processions. Fifty-five per cert of the elector roted, aggregating 'J .353,000 votes, of whom 5,028,000 -/oted ior Cualiiaw". candidates.