News of the Week
THE very considerable gains by the Socialists in the Borough Elections were, on the whole, expected, for the Socialist attack had been long and persistent ; but the warning is none the less very clear for those who believe that prodigal expenditure in the municipalities is one of the greatest present dangers to industrial recovery. The elections took place on Monday, and were for the purpose of returning one-third of the councillors for the next year in all the boroughs and county boroughs in England and Wales outside the London area. The results are summarized in the following table :—
Net Gains. Losses. Result.
. • .. 13 78 — 65 14 '33_ —19 .. 115 20 + 95 28 —10 The Socialists have not done so well as last year, when they gained 146 seats. They hoped for such a resounding success as would be equivalent , to carrying the first positions at the next General Election, but in this they have been disappointed. They have won a majority in only one council-Birkenhead, where a minority of two has become a majority of two. There are now Conservatives Liberals • . Labour Independents .. .. 18 seven towns with a Socialist majority, the six others being Sheffield, Wigan, Barnsley, St. Helens, Merthyr Tydfil and West Ham.
