BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20495, 11 May 1938, Page 6

BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS

The British Government has lost three by-elections in the last few weeks, one in London and two in the provinces. The majorities of the successful candidates have not been large, when the total vote is taken into consideration. At Lichfield last week Labour had a majority of 826 in a total poll of 46,346. The results will not be misjudged at Home. It is the usual thing for a Government with a large majority to lose seats in by-elections. The British people know the value of an effective Opposition, and invariably, if the pendulum lias swung too far one way, the by-elections give the electors the opportunity to restore a better balance. This fact has been mentioned by writers to support the contention that the people at Home are, politically, the best educated in the world. They are not liable to become obsessed by some purely local issue, but place national affairs in the forefront. At the present time the ranks of the Opposition are very thin, and the leadership is not attractive, so the electors, in constituencies where the opportunity is presented, send along reinforcements. This has happened on many occasions and under different Governments. A sweeping victory at a general election is usually followed by loss of seats at by-elections, and in this respect the recent contests have confirmed the practice. But experience has also shown that it is not wise to read into these results a reliable indication of the trend of public opinion generally. Another general election would not necessarily find the Government of the day in danger of defeat. The British elector has reached the conclusion that, as the House is now constituted, it would be advisable to strengthen the critics of the Government. They have done the same thing on many occasion*, and probably will do it again. Experience has justified it.