RESTLESS VOTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 6

RESTLESS VOTERS

GOVERNMENT REVERSE NO POST-WAR POLICY (Special Correspondent) LONDON. Feb. 21 No by-election during the war has aroused greater interest throughout Britain than that at West Derbyshire, where Alderman C. White, the cobbler's son, last week defeated Lord Hartington, son of the Duke of Devonshire, whose family has been associated with the district for 300 years. It is not easy to explain this by-elec-tion in a few short sentences. There are many factors involved —the growing restlessness at the political truce, dislike of "coupon" candidates, growing iissatisfaction with the Government's lack of post-war policy, the Common Wealth Party's ambition, _ Mr. Churchill's "imperious" letters in a previous by-election, a suspicion that the way for Lord Hartington had heen cut and dried hv his family connections —these were some of the salient facts. Lord Hartington was regarded as the best possible Government candidate for the constituency, and wa3 warmly recommended by Mr. Churchill, Mr. Attlee and Sir Archibald Sinclair —allnarty support Left Party to Stand

Mr. White left the Labour Party to right for the seat. He is the son of a former Labour member, who once beat a member of Lord Hartington's family. Supporters of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Parlies were all asked to vote for Lord Hartington, while the Common Wealth Party took "circus" speakers into the constituency and supported Mr. White without invitation

The people respect and admire Mr. Churchill as much as they ever did, but with that inherent spirit of independence, while they accept his direction to do any war job, they resent even the suggestion of being told which way they must vote. As one commentator pointed out, the people have got very few liberties left as the result of the war. but the right to vote the way they want to still remains. As regards the war effort, there is not the slightest intention to vote against it. Dominating Figure

It has been recognised for some time that the prestige of Mr. Churchill in the general election will be of enormous value to the Conservatives. But, in spite of his vigorous letters in recent by-elections, a Conservative narrowly scraped_ in at one, while another was defeated in the other. This seems to suggest to some minds that Mr. Churchill may not be a dominating figure. Others forecast that a general election would certainly reveal him to be a great political figure. Almost throughout the war it has been observed of ill'. Churchill that, while ho is a great war leader, ho will not receive the same backing as a leader in peace. But in the meantime there is nobody who can even approach him in the high esteem with which he is held throughout the country.

Mr. H. B, Lynd (Labour) was returned unopposed in the by-election for the Attercliffe Division, Sheffield. Labour formerly held the seat. RUSSIAN ATTITUDE PEACE WITH FINLAND PROSPECTS BELIEVED GOOD (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21 Ifc is believed in .Stockholm that M. Paasikivi, the Finnish envoy, is about to return to Helsinki to inform the Finnish leaders what he has learned about the Russian attitude to the prospect of a separate peace. No statement on his visit has been issued at any stage. Nevertheless, the belief that the Soviet terms have been offered, and that they hold out good hopes of Finland extricating herself honourably from the disastrous situation in which her rulers plunged her, lias been voiced by a leading article in a Stockholm Communist newspaper, Ny Dag. It was there stated that "unconditional surrender" did not exclude the possibility of conditions being negotiated b.v which Finland could cease fightins: Russia or even change sides. It was also indicated that Moscow's attitude to the Finnish Government, as expressed in Soviet newspapers, did not necessarily mean that the Russians I would not negotiate with it. The presence of a largo German force in northern Finland is, however, clearly a major difficulty. MRS. GANDHI GRAVELY ILL BOMBAY, Feb. '2l The Government has issued a communique stating that the condition of Mrs. Gandhi, wife of the civil disobedience leader in India, has been deteriorating for some days and is now very grave. A Renter's message says it is understood that a supply of penicillin is being rushed to Mrs. Gandhi by air at the request of the Bombay Government.'