MR CHURCHILL'S BIRTHDAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 3, 1 December 1944, Page 5

MR CHURCHILL'S BIRTHDAY

SYMBOLICAL OF ACHIEVEMENT. LONDON, Nov. 30. "Congratulations and good wishes such as no Englishman hitherto has earned will pour in to Mr Churchill today," says the Times in- a leading article. "Mr Churchill's services to his age place the senders under a lifelong personal obligation to him. The occasion will rightly be held to transcend the life of politics or discussion, criticism and contention. • "It is symbolical of Mr Churchill s achievement, which even now stands secure in history. Mr Churchill has proved himself in the years of national unity to be a true national leader, not only in the appeal to the popular imagination and in control of strategy, in mastery over the political scene. Along with his enduring youthfulness, disarming humour, and essentia] dislike of pretension and parade, he has disclosed in all great issues an ever-increasing maturity of patience and tolerance. There will be a personal warmth in the greetings, spoken and unspoken, coming from millions on the day which finds him 70 years young." Messages are reaching Downing Street from all parts of the world congratulating Mr Churchill. One of his secretaries said that Mr Churchill will spend his birthday as he has spent all his wartime birthdays—working. There may be a small family dinner party tonight. The Daily Mail points out that there will be a birthday present for Mr Churchill from the Ministry of Food. His birthday qualifies him for an extra one ounce of tea a week, which is granted to the "over seventies". The Ministry instructions say that those over 70, "if fit and able to walk", must take their ration books to the local food office and make a written declaration of their

As Mr Churchill entered the House of Commons this morning, wearing a red rose in his buttonhole, members on all sides cheered him loudly.