BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1940, Page 12

BRITISH BY-ELECTIONS

(Received July 6, 12.20 p.m.) t LONDON, July 5. In by-elections today Mr. William Nunn. (Conservative) was returned unopposed for the Newcastle West constituency . and Mr, ' John Maclay (Liberal-National) was returned unopposed for Montrose.

St. Peter, but St. Sampson and St. (Aubin, St. Brelade. Religion has always enjoyed freedom and tolerance in the islands and provision for worship was made for every communion. Originally no doubt the old faith was the only one. The" islands have offered. a place of sanctuary for political fugitives from France. Did not Victor Hugo flee to Guernsey and there find local colour for his "Toilers of the Sea"? Others too not nearly so distinguished have fled to these islands. There were some who came over from England to live in Jersey .and so escape the increasing income tax. Jersey was taxed 4d in the £. The land was to their liking and they would have been hard to please were it not; besides it was only an hour or so from London by air, and the boat services were fast and comfortable. j The Channel Islanders were and always had been touchy about their independence. Mr. Winston Churchill found that out some years ago when he suggested doing something with the islands about income tax. He had to be reminded of such things as constitutions and charters, some going back to the thirteenth century and remaining in force. Some of the island laws were very good laws, but all were justly administered and had to be obeyed. The newcomer was not long in learning that they must be kept. The Civil Service was not onerous, but it was almost wholly unpaid, and duties were discharged with efficiency and zeal. Many descriptive names could be given to the Channel Islands other than that they bear. The great number of places named after saints would justify the. Holy Isles; their intelligent and. intensive cultivation, the Garden Islands; their former gaiety, the Isles of Felicity; today no other title seems more appropriate than the Pathetic Islands. t