Oct, 25.
North Lambeth since the War has alternated between Liberal and [Labour allegiances. When the late Mr. Frank Briant was not sitting {for that working-class constituency jas a Liberal, Mr. G. R. Strauss iwas representing its Labour vro-Jpensities in the House of Commons. Mr. Briant was a difficult Liberal to replace. He was an untir-1g enthusiast for the welfare of poorer London. For nearly balfjo-century he had been the honor-superintendent of the Alford House Institute for Working Men jand Lads. Mr. Strauss could naturally count on a Labour reversion to the Liberal seat on Mr. Briant's lamented death. Possessed of sound experience, gained as a Parliamentary Private ISeeretary in the late Government, Mr. Strauss could also point to continued association with Lam-Jpeth's problems as a member of the London County Council, whose JCounty Hall itself is in the neighbourhood. Still Mr. Strauss may surprised at the emphasis of the vote which has returned him Westminster once more. He Jactually has polled over 3,000 more votes than the total recorded jin favour of his three opponents. The Liberal candidate by his association with the social work of the late Mr. Briant, was well-known. The National' Labour nom-nee to whom all the Government parties gave their support iwas a stranger. He was otherwise jan admirable choice for he has {travelled widely in the Empire and has been Private Secretary to the present Prime Minister. The exleellence of these two candidature: was of no avail. Mr. Strauss swept lover them, leaving the unfortunate Mrs. Alice Brown, whose label Independent Imperialist" will be readily recognized, to pay a deposite for her three hundred odd! votes. On the eve of the resumption of Parliamentary activities this Labour victory will no doubt be gleefully hailed by the opposition, Jalthough it must be remembered that Mr. Briant was a Samuelite Liberal so the Government has been accustomed to North Lambeth hostility for some time. The eyes lof Government whips will turn with some anxiety to the Swindon Division of Wiltshire where an-lather by-election is proceeding and Jan even more redoubtable Labour candidate, Dr. C. Addison, a form-ler Minister of Agriculture, is trying to repeat his feat of 1929 by. Jwinning a Conservative seat for his party. He has to ponder over his defeat in 1931 by 4,794 votes but the Government will assuredly mot underestimate the strength of his candidature.
'A Government which nas been in office for three years and has had behind it an exceptionally large majority, is bound to meet with set-backs at by-elections. North Lambeth, a drab area of factories—the hinterland of Water-oe Station with the Old Vic to give -perky note of bravery amid jdreariness—would not be likely to take to its bosom a National Labour candidate whose potential colleagues would be so largely Conservative. So it is impossible to regard the result as any clear indication of the Government's hold over either London or the country at large. Soon, owing to the death of Mr. Samuel Samuel, the Labour organizers will have the chance of assailing the strong-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.