HOUSE OF COMMONS IN GOOD HEART

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 36, 12 February 1943, Page 4

HOUSE OF COMMONS IN GOOD HEART

CHURCHILLIAN QUIPS

Reference To New Zealand Draws Applause N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 11. The confidence and oplimism of Mr. Churchill's speech impressed all who heard it in the House of Commons, the general comment being that he had rarely been m a better mood in the whole course ol the war. In fact, as one Cabinet Minister observed in the lobby afterwards, Mr. Churchill has been "bubbling over" on his front bench since he returned from abroad. From the viewpoint of New Zealand, one of the highlights of the speech was undoubtedly Mr. Churchill's reference to the Mew Zealand Division, which he mspectea in Tripoli. It can be observed that Mr. Churchill invariably takes every opportunity to refer to the New Zealand Division when he speaks m tne House of Commons on the operations in the Middle East. He made' reference to it last year, when Lieutenant General Freyberg was wounded, ana the House applauded as warmly to-day as it did then, when the New Zealand Division was mentioned, it was certainly interesting and heartening to hear applause by membeis of the House of Commons when tne name New Zealand was mentioned. X/ively Enthusiasm Among Italians Even in the darker days of the war the House of Commons always looked for a vein of humour m ,Mr. Churchill's speeches and was never disappointed. This was so to-day, when several Churchillian quips drew rounds of laughter. One was his reference to Tripoli. He described it as "The first Italian city to be delivered by our armies from tne grip of the Hun. Naturally there was lively enthusiasm among the Italian P °4nather quip that aroused general merriment was the reference to an interchange of messages with General Sir Harold Alexander, British Com-mander-in-Chief in the Middle East, whose message, "I now await your further instructions, was replied to by Mr. Churchill's, "Obviously we shall have to think of something. Tone of Sober Confidence But the note of amusement was subordinated to the general tone-of sober confidence which permeated the speech with its positiveness regarding the Allied Nations close cooperation and intentions. 'We have now a complete 'plan of action and this plan we are going to carry out during the next nine months, de clared Mr. Churchill. This declaration portends tne definite forward steps which are being taken in the war. Having seen •the House of Commons in the.daik davs when Mr. Churchill talked of "Mood sweat and tears," and during last year's mood of self-criticism, it is delightful to observe its changed atmosphere and renewed conMence. There is no doubt that the Briusn Parliament is in good heart.