Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th., 1935. MR. CHURCHILL’S WIN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 February 1935, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th., 1935. MR. CHURCHILL’S WIN.

'J’HE real victor at the Waver1 rec by-election was not one of the candidates, but Mr. Winston Churchill, who utilised the opportunity to carry his campaign against the Government’s India re-

form proposals, one step further, by putting up his young son as a candidate, with the aim of splitting! the Conservative vote. The extent of the success attained, in this direction. was beyond general expectations and, perhaps, in excess of Mr. Churchill’s real desire. The net consequence of his action has been to let a Conservative seat go to Labour, and to damage further the prestige of a Government which Air. Winston Churchill was elected to support. Not that the, latter fact will worry Mr. Churchill, as this is not the first time he has let down friends and allies. >

The late Lord Riddell, in his recently published memoirs, revealed that Mr. Churchill has strong belief in his star. He said to Lord Riddell: “The old Cromwellian spirit still survives. I believe I am watched over. Think of* the perils I have escaped.” Certainly, few statesmen have overcome more reverses than has Mr. Churchill. He has never lacked courage, whether on the actual battlefield or the political arena, and gives his numerous critics adequate tit for tat. He has remarkable gifts, and his "writings will probably be remembered long after his political achievements are forgotten. And he ’has made political history! The son .of a distinguished father, lie proved himself even greater, but has' seen inferiorequipped men assume the Prime Minister which should have been his. Like his brilliant ancestor, John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, Mr. Churchill "wins more admiration than trust. Nobody can be sure of what he will do, and this lack of reliability has led public support to be given to safer, if less brilliant, leaders. He has been many things in turn but nothing long. He has filled various Ministerial offices in Governments of varying political views, and although he is now back to his first love, the Conservatives, any decision of his to re-join the Liberal, or any other Party likely to get powerj -would surprise few. Air. Churchill is still comparatively young, for one of his accomplishments, in the early 60’s, and has many qualifications to be" Prime Minister. It is doubtful however, if he will ever attain this ' ambition.- At one time he was friend and, ally of Air. Lloyd George, but a keen dispute snapped that partnership, Air. Churchill winning. A Lloyd George-Churchill ■combination at this juncture, might wreck the National Government, but the likelihood of such alliance is small. Their views on India, for instance, differ -widely; however, such a fact would not be past “compromise,” judging from the record of both. Air. Churchill is getting little support in Conservative ‘official circles, which have hitherto defeated ’ him at Party gatherings where the question of the India reforms has been discussed. The Wavertree business will not add to his popularity at headquarters, and his own constituency, Epping l , may have something to say on this point. Whatever else is certain, is that Air. Churchill w ( ill be unafraid, and will meet all challenges.