25 MARCH 1949, Page 20

POLITICAL TERMINOLOGY

SIR,—The Sowerby by-election figures show a percentage of the total votes cast of 53 for the successful candidate, compared with 47 for the other. In 1945 the percentages were 51 (Labour), 31 (Conservative) and 18 (Liberal). Is this not a more sensible comparison than that almost universally made this time, which gave the absurd result of a " reduction " in the " majority " (from 51 per cent. to 53 per cent.)?—Yours truly,