BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9075, 27 April 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS.

~ . . „ . - . n Electric Telegraph United Press Association—By . Copyright;

NORTH-WEST MANCHESTER SEAT.

MR CHURCHILL DEFEATED.

CRUSHING BLOW FOR FREETRADE.

REMARKABLE SCENES

Received April 26, 4.30 p.m. LONDON, April 25

The following is the result of the election for the North-west Manchester seat:—■

Mr Joynson Hicks (Unionist) 5,417 Mr Winston Churchill (Liberal) 4,988 Mr Irving (Socialist) 276

The total number of electors was 11,914, and included 503 new electors.

The chief surprise was the smallness of the Socialist vote. Unionist freetraders, excepting a small handful, voted .solid for Mr Churchill.

There remarkable scenes in Manchester, London, Liverpool, and other cities in connection with Mr Churchill's defeat.

The excitement equalled the last general election.

Mr Churchill admitted that the result of the election was a heavy, bitte rand crushing blow for freetrade, and carried disastrous consequences to Lancashire interests. He left Manchester without a spark of hatred.

There was great cheering over the result in London music halls and theatres.

A notable fact was that the Hon. H. H. Asquith, the Premier, sent Mr Churchill no letter of encouragement during the election. This is interpreted to mean that he did not wish to be identified with some of Mr Churchill's pledges. Eighty-nine per cent, of the electors voted. This constitutes a record. "The Times" says that the victory was signal and significant. Even Home Rule was subordinate to Tariff Reform.

The "Manchester Guardian" says that the business centre of Manchester has struck a damaging blow to freetrade, which must have wider reaching effects.

Mr Joynson-Hicks admits that many supported him who disagreed wi*:h his fiscal views. The Liberals of Dundee have invited Mr Churchill to stand for that seat.