FOR OUR trip down memory lane this month, we thought we would visit the General Election campaign of 1910. Why 1910 we hear you ask? Because in the end, the Liberal were only able to form a government through the help of a nationalist group. On this occasion it was the Irish.
An extract from the Grays and Tilbury Gazette published on 17th December, 1910 reporting on the Parliamentary election in South East Essex.
Polling in Grays and district proceeded in most miserable conditions, rain falling steadily from soon after ten o’clock until late in the evening. This made the roads in a terrible condition and rendered traffic very difficult.
The weather, no doubt, affected the Liberals seriously in the Orsett Hundred, for they were by no means as well served by motors and conveyances as the Conservatives, and working men did not appreciate walking two and three miles to the polling station in the rural districts to record their vote. In many cases in Grays and district it was a job to get them to turn out again after they had once gone home, wet and tired, after a hard day’s work.
It was pleasing to note that the contest was waged without the slightest ill-feeling on either side, the most noise being created by the children in the street, who had been obliged to be given a holiday owing to the schools being required for polling stations.
The children assembled outside the various committee rooms, and cheered the motor cars having the favours to which they belonged and booed the other side, many of them indulged in the occupation of throwing mud at the drivers.
During the day both candidates toured the district, but on account of the heavy weather, Mr Burrows (Liberal) could not reach the outlying parishes of Rainham and Ockendon. Both Mr and Mrs Burrows had a hearty send-off upon proceeding en route for Stanford and Leigh.
Mr Kirkwood (Conservative) was at West Thurrock about four o’clock, and Grays shortly before five, where he was well received by his supporters. At Tilbury, however, he had a hostile reception and was pelted with mud.
Towards eight o’clock in the evening large crowds assembled in the High Street, Grays, and after the close of the poll many of the young bloods of the town paraded the streets singing songs. Everything, however, was pretty good- natured and there were practically no disturbances. No doubt the wet evening accounted for the absence of any real excitement.
The count, which took place at the Technical Schools this year, began shortly after 9.30, there being 17 representatives for each party, in addition to the agents.
Mr Hamilton Jepp, the Under Sheriff, was present throughout. As soon as the result was made known, Mr J.H. Burrows shook the Conservative candidate by the hand and heartily congratulated him on the success. We understand that the poll reached 19,000 and there were in the neighbourhood of 80 spoilt papers.
There was a great crowd outside the Technical Schools shortly after twelve o’clock, when the result was declared; for a long way up and down and right across the street there was nothing but a sea of heads.
The Deputy Returning Officer announced the figures as follows:-
KIRKWOOD (Cons) 10,108 BURROWS (Lib) 8,891 Conservative majority 1,217
