MR CHURCHILL ON TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25881, 27 June 1945, Page 5

MR CHURCHILL ON TOUR

ADDRESS AT BIRMINGHAM LONDON, June 25. After nine hours of travelling and making speeches under a hot sun, Mr Churchill wound up the first day of his election tour by addressing 10,000 people in Birmingham. The crowd awaiting Mr Churchill’s arrival heard recordings of Hitler’s voice broadcast from loud-speaker vans followed by Mr Churchill’s “We shall fight on the beaches ” speech.

A deafening outburst of chesting and shouts of “ Good old Winnie! ” marked Mr Churchill’s arrival. Mounted police had difficulty in clearing the way for his car.

After recalling that the last time he visited Birmingham was the occasion of a mass burial following a bad blitz the night before, Mr Churchill emphasised that he needed a majority to retain the Prime Ministership. “A lot of Liberals and Labourites are going about talking as though you could vote for them, and it would be all right for the ‘ Old Man,’ but as a matter of fact if you do not give me a majority in the next Parliament I cannot undertake responsibility for the tremendous tasks ahead at home and abroad.”

Mr Churchill received a tumultuous reception in the poorer districts of Birmingham, where he was showered with confetti and bouquets. Work was stopped in a number of factories. Women rushed forward and tried to kiss the Prime Minister. Mr Churchill laughed when the shouts of “ Good old Winnie! ” became mingled with the singing of the “ Internationale ” by a group of workers waving the Red Flag.