‘Smethwick Seething With Indignation’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 21

‘Smethwick Seething With Indignation’

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

LONDON, October 20. The defeat of Mr Patrick Gordon Walker at Smethwick in the General Election was not as bad as it is being painted, according to Aiderman C. V. Williams, the Mayor, and the “Yorkshire Post" “I think that, as Mayor of the town, it behoves me to reply on behalf of the citizens of Smethwick to the many ill-considered strictures that have been circulated since last week’s election,” said Aiderman Williams. “Among others, one newlyelected member of Parliament refers to the result as the action of the ‘illiterate voters of Smethwick’ and *a disgrace to democracy.’ “I cannot think that our people are any more illiterate than those of any other constituency in the country. They are certainly no whit less democratic. “Such comments have been widespread, in the main based on ignorance of the position here and by people who have never taken the trouble to ascertain the real facts before making public statements. “People of Smethwick faced all of the issues in this election and immigration was certainly one. It is a major

issue. Smethwick people have to live with it. “Having considered the suggested solutions of the four candidates, or, at least their ways of alleviating the problem, and having thought about it for three or four years, not only three weeks, they made their decision. “What is undemocratic about that? Whence this illiteracy? “The people of Smethwick have every right to decide upon their problems and they exercised this right in exactly the same way as those in other constituencies did. That is all, no more, no less.” The “Yorkshire Post” says editorially: “It was a proper verdict. Mr Gordon Walker was not beaten by the immigration issue. He was beaten by his own humbug. He lacked the courage to admit that he had played party politics with the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill when it first came up. “If he had come right out with it and said he had been wrong then, and that his party was now beginning to change its tune, he might have got in. But his selfrighteousness was rejected by the voters. The pity is that such a man is able to waltz into high office through the back door. Smethwick is seething with indignation.”