Greymouth Evening Star AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1940. MR. CHURCHILL’S BIRTHDAY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1940, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1940. MR. CHURCHILL’S BIRTHDAY.

T HE birthday of Mr. Winston

Churchill has been appropriately made the occasion for Empire-wide greetings, in which all New Zealand will join. Auckland quickly got off the mark, and received prompt acknowledgements from the recipient, who emphasised that the first duty was to win the war. It is this resolve to secure victory that makes Mr. Churchill’s leadership so impressive, and obtains for him support from many who formerly were critical. Mr. Churchill has what is called “a good Press,” and since he became. Prime Minister, he has received considerable adulation, often from those who only a few months previously, were similarly acclaiming Mr. Chamberlain as “a second Pitt,” and words to that effect.

From his youth up, Mr. Churchill has rarely lacked selfconfidence, and innumerable stories are told of this characteristic. His powers as a writer and an orator assist him to place his views before the public, with clearness and strength. In wais time, these gifts are particularly valuable, and these have helped

him to maintain Empire confidence in the justice of its cause and its ultimate triumph. Mr. Churchill has not tried to pretend that the Empire’s task would be easy. On the contrary, he has consistently emphasised the “blood, sweat and tears” attributes of the campaign, and he does not shirk unpleasant truths. It would be foolish to claim that he is the only possible leader at present, but it is true to say that none other could do any better. Mr. Churchill has been more fortunate than was his predecessor, in obtaining wholehearted Labour support, and this has made a great difference.

During his long career, Mr. Churchill has had his failures as well as his successes, and. even during his Prime Ministership, there have been incidents, such as the Dakar affair, that were not creditable to the Government. However, in a tremendous widespread business as the war is, occasional setbacks must be expected, and are a reminder that even the most popular Ministers are but human. Mr. Churchill carries immense responsibilities, the mere thought of which is enough to make the average man glad that he has not the burden to carry. Mr. Churchill is unafraid, and is cheerfully willing to remain at the helm, despite the rough weather and unknown course. All will trust that before his next birthday, he will have steered the ship of State, to calmer waters, with the port of victory in sight, if not actually reached.

Incidentally, it is interesting to note that the ‘Prime Minister’s surname is really SpencerChurchill, and he is invariably described in the Court Circular as Mr. Winston Spencer-Churchill. It is sometimes forgotten, that John. Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, left no male heirs, and the title later passed through his daughter to the Spencer family. It was the fifth Duke, George Spencer, who early in the last century took by Royal License the additional name of Churchill. Mr. Churchill’s descent from the famous Marlborough is, .thus, not so close as is sometimes claimed. That does not detract from his achievements. It is possible that he owes as much to his American ancestors- as to his English.